The Malawi Chapter of the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA Malawi) and the Media Council of Malawi (MCM) on Thursday, July 3, 2025, met the leadership of Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC). The meeting was aimed at ensuring the public broadcaster plays a critical and constructive role in the current election cycle.
The meeting is part of MISA Malawi and MCM’s outreach efforts to understand and positively influence the media to effectively play its watchdog role ahead of the elections.
Under the Communications Act of 2016, the Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) has a crucial obligation to inform the public on electoral matters in a fair, equitable and transparent manner.
MISA Malawi and MCM implored the public broadcaster to ensure balance and fairness in its news and programming. The two media bodies urged MBC to ensure a level playing field in its coverage of political content and strive to attain public trust and confidence in its commitment to impartiality.
In particular, MISA Malawi and MCM buttressed the importance of ensuring the composition of opinion and commentary programmes reflects diverse political views, and the leadership of MBC adheres to the Communications Act (2016) that mandates the outlet to be balanced and objective in its coverage of news, including political discourse.
MISA Malawi and MCM strongly recommended that the public broadcaster reconsider the involvement of its Director General in commentary and opinion-based programming as a measure of safeguarding the neutrality of the broadcaster on the most contentious matters of the day, including elections.
On its part, MBC leadership expressed its commitment to fair coverage of the elections. Among others, the leadership announced intentions to launch new programming that seeks to provide an opportunity to all political parties to articulate their various political agendas, and the recent recruitment of district reporters to ensure adequate coverage of the elections.
However, the corporation decried recent politically motivated attacks on its employees and urged the media bodies to step up efforts to defend MBC journalists.
MBC leadership also expressed concern that some news sources tend to sideline MBC when seeking diverse perspectives.
MISA Malawi and MCM will continue to engage all media houses across the country to ensure they uphold professionalism throughout the electoral period.
Signed
Golden Matonga Dr. Jolly Ntaba
Chairperson, MISA Malawi Chairperson, Media Council of Malawi
Media contacts
MISA Malawi Chairperson Golden Matonga
Cell: +265 99 616 9705
MCM Chairperson Dr. Jolly Ntaba
Cell : +265995652700
