Misa Malawi dinner raises K31.5 million

Media Institute for Southern Africa (Misa-Malawi Chapter) fundraising dinner on Saturday raised about K31.5 million towards the construction of a training centre in Lilongwe.

In his speech during the dinner at Sunbird Capital, the fundraising committee chairperson Wisely Phiri said they targeted to raise K50 million for completion of the structure which is at beam level.

He said: “We have aligned various fundraising initiatives over the period of 12 months and this is our first event. 

“We expect to have three more events over the course of next year and expect to finish the building before end of next year.”

President Lazarus Chakwera, Vice President Saulos Chilima, Thomson and Barbara Mpinganjira joined the corporate world in supporting the cause.

In his speech, FDH chief executive officer William Mpinganjira urged the media to guard against integrity as it remains the core value of the profession.

“The media is powerful. The pen can make or break. However, be careful when you go about your job. Don’t be arrogant; do not abuse the power that you have. Ensure you are always factual,” he said.

Mpinganjira said with a vibrant media, the private sector is able to get the feedback it needs to support the government’s agenda of developing the economy of the country.

The fundraiser was held under the theme Media as a Strategic Partner for Private Sector Growth and Viability.

Minister of Information and Digitisation Moses Kunkuyu echoed Mpinganjira’s sentiments by appealing to journalists to be professional and avoid sensationalism journalism.

He assured the media and the private sector in Malawi that government fully appreciates and respects media freedom, freedom of expression, and the need and importance of creating a conducive environment for the private sector to thrive.

“The need for a strong partnership between the media and the private sector cannot be overemphasized especially at the current trajectory of our economy.

“As a country we need our private sector to live up to its expectation of being an engine of economic growth for our nation,” said Kunkuyu.