Malawi journalists petition govt to lift advert ban on newspaper
Malawi government has been petitioned by the Journalists Union of Malawi (Juma) appealing that the authorities should rescind its decision to withdraw state advertisement in some private media institutions including the Nation Publications Limited
JUMA petition signed by Levi Zeleza Manda and sent to Minister of Information Leckford Thotho (pictured) 
said the directive to ban advertisement has been circulated, in writing, to some government departments.
The journalists union said the ban might be misconstrued as suppression of media freedom and intolerance to civil dissent and that some might even start questioning Malawi’s democratic credentials.
“We believe and trust that for the sake of media development in Malawi and continued good image of Malawi in the world, you will intercede on the media’s behalf and appeal to His Excellency Ngwazi Dr Bingu wa Mutharika for a change of heart so that the current government directive against placing state advertisements in some media outlets gets rescinded,” appealed JUMA.
The union said it is concerned that without government advertisement, a substantial number of media personnel, particularly the youth, will lose jobs, which will be against President Mutharika’s dreams and plans for the youth of this country.
“Without proper employment, the young journalists might end up being exploited, manipulated and abused by people who do not wish this country and its leadership well.
“We actually call on and encourage the Malawi Government to advertise even more in all media so that the media in Malawi expands, thus enabling it to employ even more personnel and pay them even better. We believe this administration can and will do it,” said JUMA in the petition which has also been circulated on Media Institute of Southern Africa (Misa) Malawi internet discussion forum.
JUMA pointed out that Malawi has won the battle against food insecurity partly because media houses did their job professionally and in a timely manner “telling people where, when, and how to get subsidised inputs.”
The petition also pointed out that the media as a dedicated whistle blower has been in the forefront in the fight against corruption and other social evils that used to retard human and social development.
“We appreciate, Honourable Minister, that like any other advertiser, Government has the right to choose where to advertise its products for maximum returns on its investment. However, as the biggest advertiser and guarantor of media development and press freedom in Malawi, the Government should be the last to withdraw advertisement from any media house because that will have a negative impact on in the long run.”
JUMA also noted that when parliament froze funding to the state radio MBC and Television Malawi, they cried foul, because the two institutions serve the public more than they serve politicians or political parties.
The union also reminded the Minister of Information there is a professional media complaints body in Malawi, the Media Council of Malawi (www.mediacouncilmalawi.org), whose mandate is to regulate all media behaviour, including perceived bias and the flouting of ethics.
“You may recall, Honourable Minister, that last year the Malawi Government reported the online publication, Nyasa Times, to the same Media Council of Malawi and issues were dealt with amicably,” said the petition.
“Since then, Honourable Minister, Nyasa Times has changed the way it handles national issues. It was a win-win result for the Government and the media.”
Juma urged government to follow the same dialogic avenue so that any media house that does not follow ethics and standards of journalism should be exposed, shamed or otherwise corrected through the said Media Council and not through withdrawal of government advertisement.
The union implored government to seriously consider rescinding its decision because advertising is the life blood of every vibrant private media institution.
Kaukonde, U r 1 of the gr8 the gr8 sons of malawi! Its very true that Nation is not for the pple of Malawi, but its for Northerners. U can go and find out urself…u will see wot its made up of. I dont knw wot these pple think as they live. I think the major problem is about the bushes which are in their home areas, where they cant manage to stay. Thats why they will owez try their best to get as more pple as they can frm their region once they find a chance. But u guys, its very simple, u can clear out the bushes and live comfortably at ur home of origins…osati kungodzazana ku madera anzanu basi. I don’t think I myself can like to stay in the north other than my home area….I don knw wots wrong with these fellows. Need divine intervention!
Ahadi luhanga, u don knw wot u r talkin about…jst shut ur mouth up!
You are one big chicken my dear…..
Vuto la azanthunu sukulu ndi apongozi ndiye chimene mumadziwa ndikugwira maganyu mumanyumba mwathumu.Don’t you see that you should be thanking these people?
You should thank your tribalistic prez kuti nanunso mukalaweko ku ku univ with 40 points otherwise mukanangoferamo.
You only have three yrs to go to univ otherwise nkhalamba yanu ikupita ku ndata.
Anthu aumve ogona limodzi ndi mbuzi makhomo ndikumanyadira kuti akuchoka close ndi kutauni nyumba zabwino akukhalamo anthu ophunzira zochititsa manyazi.Get real anthu osaliranu.2014 dpp will be a dead party.
Can someone please tell me which other website in Africa has a news forum where people from the same country hate each other ndikutukwana like us in Malawi. So now two Malawians from the same country are far apart and could be closer to a nigerian or chinese than themselves. What a pity! Poor Malawi. Will this country get anywhere? Shame on its people. Who will be a real winner here then? Neighbouring countries for sure when this country will be stinking poor. What kind of Malawi r w going to have? Were we this before an we just needed Bingu’s policy to ignite us or this is new. Oh. my foot.
Can someone please tell me which other website in Africa has a news forum where people from the same country hate each other ndikutukwana like us in Malawi. So now two Malawians from the same country are far apart and could be closer to a nigerian or chinese than themselves. What a pity! Poor Malawi. Will this country get anywhere? Shame on its people. Who will be a real winner here then? Neighbouring countries for sure when this country will be stinking poor. What kind of Malawi r w going to have? Were we this before an we just needed Bingu’s policy to ignite us or this is new. Oh. my foot.To be hionest i am ashamed to be Malawian now
Does it mean that all Northerners should not be employed? Oh. My word! Where is this country heading to? Mr. President you will be held accountable. Genocide!!
Amene mukulalatanu tikukuonani! Kulitu malamulo okhudza Sedition! Munganene amnzanu kuti amagona nd ziweto (kugona nazo kapena kugonana nazo?) Ndiye enanso akuti ena amathawa kukhala kwawo poti kuli thengo lokhalokha kapena ziwanda za vimbuza! Enanso akuti ena sangapeze mapoints abwino koma ma 40 points basi!! Kupepetulidwa, chiyani? Kuteroku 6 points akapezeka ku Central ndi ku South ndi wokhwimira eeti, mpaka kuphera ambwiye?. Waku Central akulephela spelling ya Government akuti alibe nzeru koma wa ku Mpoto akalephera kulemba DON’T kuiwala ‘ nkulemba DONT akuti wa ku Central ndi ku South amulodza!!! Iiiii koma manyasa kuvuta!! Ena akuti tiloleni North ikhale state payokha!!! Ndimayesa kumunda kwanu amalimako ndi ochewa, oyawo, osena ndi omang’anja ndi olomwe, ndiye mukalitha thengo lija kukaya!!! Mufunanso Bingu akugawireni ma Tractors!!! Koma inu zinazi!!!!! Ena akuti akupmoto ndi mabwana ku Central ndi ku South, ndiye akabwerera kwawo ma houseboy ndi mahousegirl aku Central ndi South mukagwira ntchito kuti!!! Koma manyasa, tiyeni tizikapukuta mamina azungu ku UK, kapena kukayamba mathanyula ku migodi ku RSA mwina nkupumako mavuto aku Nyasaland.
Panopa tilowetsanso quota kumanda!!! Asamadzadze oopa kukaikidwa kwawo mmandamu!!!
KiKIKIKIKIKIKI Musandiseketse chikhakhali