Media Institute of Southern Africa (Mi sa) Mal awi Chapter has described 2024 as a year of suppressed voices when the State moved to muzzle and even destroy free and independent media.
In a New Year message reflecting on the just ended year, Misa Malawi cited several incidents to form a view that the current administration was out to frustrate press freedom which is constitutionally enshrined.
“The pattern of attacks on journalists in the year under review can easily be construed as deliberate to muzzle, frustrate and even destroy the free and independent media in Malawi,” reads the statement signed by Misa Malawi chairperson Golden Matonga.
Reacting to the message, Minister of information and Digitisation Moses Kunkuyu said it was gratifying that Misa Malawi has provided a sober reflection of the year 2024 by highlighting the positives and pointing out the negatives without bias.
The minister, who is the off icial government spokesperson, said as a country there is need to cultivate a culture of unity and tolerance in which citizens should openly and positively critique each other for the furtherance of democracy.
“We concur with Misa on the call for all of us to enjoy all freedoms with a great sense of responsibility and respect for rule of law,” said Kunkuyu.
Among the dark days of journalism in 2024, Misa cited the case of Platform for Investigative Journalism (PIJ) journalist Gregory Gondwe who went into hiding purportedly on advice from military sources for allegedly publishing a story about some payments that the Malawi Defence Force (MDF) made to United Kingdom-based businessperson Zuneth Sattar who had procurement contracts with security agencies, including MDF.
Misa also highlighted as another low point the police action to confiscate mobile phones and laptops from over 14 Malawi Broadcasting Co r p o r a t i o n (MBC) journalists for alleged offences committed under the Electronic Transactions and Cybersecurity Act.
Further, Misa also mentioned the detention of former Malawi24 journalist Macmillan Mhone, now working for Nation Publications Limited (NPL), who was moved from Blantyre to Lilongwe for writing a story.
Misa also faulted police for stopping NPL journalists from using mobile phones to livestream the Malawi Congress Party convention which President Dr. Lazarus Chakwera attended.
In the statement, Misa also expressed concern with an incident during the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) convention where some ‘DPP media team’ forced the NPL team to delete a Facebook news update that captured some delegates sleeping on the floor.
The media body is also worried with the abuse of the Electronic Transactions and Cyber Security Act which has seen a number of Malawians including journalists arrested and ill-treated for merely expressing themselves online.
But Misa applauded President Lazarus Chakwera for demonstrating to be a friend of the media through his hosting of the fraternity to a World Press Freedom Day breakfast at Kamuzu Palace in Lilongwe as well as participating in Misa Malawi fundraising activities.
Misa also hailed the Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority for concluding the allocation of radio frequencies to more radio stations after about two years of not allocating the same after revoking some broadcasting licences due to delayed payment of licence fees.
