Kaliati hints govt will regulate social media: Malawians abusing Facebook

Information minister Patricia Kaliati has hinted the government will regulated the social media, saying it has now become a gossip and rumour mongering platform thereby defaming or hurting many innocent people.

Kaliati: Social media is for networking and productive matters and not monger mill or insults platform
Kaliati: Social media is for networking and productive matters and not monger mill or insults platform

Kaliat said this on Thursday when she visited private owned  Zodiak  Broadcasting Services offices in Lilongwe.

“It is sad that some people use the social media to spread false rumours. Imagine, some people even spread rumours of death, that someone has died which is not true,” said Kaliati.

She did not however go into detail o how the social media, including Facebook, Twitter and Instagram would be regulated.

Kaliati assured Zodiak staff that the government would guarantee freedom of opinion and expression as well as freedom of broadcasting but reminded the staff that all freedoms are not absolute.

She said there was need for the media to be responsible as well by avoiding sensational reporting that would just alarm people.

In his speech, the managing director of Zodiak,  Gospel Kazako asked President Peter Mutharika to be open even to local media houses.

He said on several occasions, the President had turned away reporters from Zodiak on the pretext that he was busy.

Zodiak boss also bemoaned that the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP)cadres sometimes harasses journalists from the media house, saying they are sometimes beaten up and their car was set up ablaze by regime thugs.

Kazako also told the minister that Malawi is not moving economically and socially as many women continue to die of diseases that can be prevented and education standards in public schools have completely gone down.

He also said the hunger situation is still dire as some people cannot afford a meal a day.

“We will ensure that we make your government accountable, we will make sure that we make your government transparent. Our obligation is to the people of Malawi not to politicians. We have seen governments come and go, we have seen your government going and coming back but Malawians have always been there,” he said.

Kaliati, in her response to issues raised by Kazako, said the government would look into all the matters raised.

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LUHANA Z
7 years ago

Malawians, comments made so far on regulating the social media are not fair coz it has nothing to do with where APM was . Stop this no sense! Look it has been observed that we tend to abuse the media and use fake names coz its a shame. Let us comment objectively. Developed nations like China have regulated the social media in order to avoid injuring each other psychologically and eroding of morals among the youth. In the same vein, I urge govt to consult massively on this to come up with a law that would help build the country… Read more »

Enock
Enock
7 years ago

BLESSED HOPE ISULU letter to Citizens is very impressive and a good idea

eugene
eugene
7 years ago

Fodya eti – mwaiwala 577 billion ija?

Apao
Apao
7 years ago

Fodya eti kkkkkkk….stop bleaching your skin please inu Midnight Six

Chilungamo Chimawawa
Chilungamo Chimawawa
7 years ago

let her and DPP go and hang themselves. Malawi is not a place for idiots!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Kaziulika Chimugonda
Kaziulika Chimugonda
7 years ago

Begin of end! . People fought this democracy with their blood. Peter was in USA then. What a Shame!

Dwambazi
Dwambazi
7 years ago

I want to see how you are going to that. Free speech is my birth right

JD
JD
7 years ago

We don’t use government airtime and there is no basis to we Malawians are abusing Facebook

Petre Mathanyula
7 years ago

You Kaliati are sick, Malawians have been complaining of MBC’s biasness and yet your gafment does nothing about it and you rush to regulate the social media. Does facebook, twitter and the like belong to DPP??? Tell MBC to start conducting itself as a public broadcaster not as a dpp mouth piece. Ukagwere.

kk
kk
7 years ago

Kaliyati ndi Kazako amene walankhula zonveka ndikuonetsa mphavu ndi Kazako kikkkkkkkkkkkk, koma Bakili anatilakwitsa kobasi, ndithu kuthilidwa doom mmaso mpaka kutenga Mlhomwe ndithu mkumati akahale Pule? hahahahahahahah!!!!! taonani tsopano zichitikazi?
Koma abale sititopa dikilabe zimene wanena Kazako kuti boma liti chani sinanga uthenga wanveka bwino ndipo Kazako watuma Kaliyati kikkkkkkkkk!!

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