US deplores harassment of journalists
United States (US) Embassy charge d’affaires Amy Diaz has deplored continued cases of attacks on journalists in the country, saying it poses a threat to media freedom and violates Section 36 of the Constitution.
In her address during the Media Institute of Southern Africa (Misa) Malawi Chapter 2024 World Press Freedom Day Media Gala and Awards in Mangochi on Saturday night, she said the media plays a critical role in the promotion of democracy, as such, should not be exposed to harassment or attacks.
Said Diaz: “While we acknowledge the freedom that journalists enjoy in Malawi, it is concerning to note that there are continued threats to this hard-won freedom.
“There is an increasingly disturbing pattern of intimidation of journalists based on their reporting.”
During the awards, Nation Publications Limited (NPL) publishers of The Nation, Weekend Nation, Nation on Sunday and Nation Online, took home eight individual awards in the print media category.
NPL investigative journalist Bobby Kabango won the Water and Sanitation and Reporting Older Persons journalist of the year awards. His colleagues Steve Pembamoyo won the Best Sexual and Reproductive Health reporting, Edith Gondwe retained the Raphael Tenthani Columnist of the Year for her column Candid Talk in Nation on Sunday while business journalist Eric Mtemang’ombe won the Business and Economics journalist category. Other winners were Lloyd Chitsulo for the Women and Girl Child reporting, Precious Kumbani for Anti-Corruption journalist category while Jonathan Pasungwi took the Quality and Standards reporting award.
On the other hand, Times Group won 19 awards across print, radio and television categories with journalist Sam Kalimira bagging the overall winner accolade. (See full list of individual winners on Page 3 and 4 and pictorial on Page 7).
Times Group also won the media house of the year award in print and television categories. Zodiak Broadcasting Station won the media house of the year in radio category while Platform for Investigative Journalism (PIJ) claimed the accolade in online category. Love FM of Salima was ranked the best community radio station.
Chief judge Peter Kanjere said there were about 584 entries from 23 media houses and freelance journalists.
He said Times Group submitted 189 entries while NPL had 154, Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) had 30 and Malawi News Agency (Mana) had six.
In her remarks, Misa-Malawi vice-chairperson Chisomo Ngulube said there is need to review deadlines for receiving entries to give judges enough time to thoroughly scrutinise the entries.
Other speakers were Minister of Information and Digitisation Moses Kunkuyu who was also the guest of honour and Malawi Electoral Commission commissioner Francis Kasaila who was the keynote speaker.
This year’s World Press Freedom Day, which falls on May 3, was commemorated under the theme ‘Guardian of democracy: Championing media independence for free and credible elections’.
