By Pemphero Malimba:
British High Commissioner to Malawi Fiona Ritchie has emphasised the need for effective implementation of legislation that promotes media freedom ahead of the September 16 2025 elections.
The country will have Local Government, Parliamentary and Presidential Elections on that date.
Ritchie said this Thursday after holding a meeting with Media Institute of Southern Africa (Misa)-Malawi officials at Mtolankhani House in Lilongwe, where she also toured house expansion works.
She said although Malawi was doing well on the issue of promoting media freedom, there were challenges that required improved implementation of the laws.
“Based on my experience of living in some other countries, actually you see a much free and fair media in Malawi but that doesn’t mean there are no challenges. I think it is one thing to have good legislation but the important thing is implementing it,” she said.
She said sound legislation could help journalists counter vices such as misinformation and disinformation, which she said affect elections.
“The closer we get to the 2025 elections, it is absolutely vital that Malawi’s media practitioners are able to get the truth to the citizens, are able to talk about data, facts, encourage citizens to exercise democratic rights and to counter misinformation,” she said.
On his part, Misa Malawi Chairperson Golden Matonga said the meeting was part of a series of meetings that the media body has organised to meet with members of the diplomatic corps and development partners on its plans for the 2025 general elections.
“We are sharing with them [information] on what we are doing to ensure that the environment is safe for reporting,” Matonga said.
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