Malawi commits to media freedom as UK warns countries to pay diplomatic price
Malawi government through Foreign Affairs Minister Francis Kasaila has made a pledge to ensure that there is enabling environment for media freedom, diversity and independence.
Kasaila was part of the delegates at the Global Conference for Media Freedom held in London this week.
The media freedom conference was hosted by Britain with the Canadian government and attended by delegations from more than 100 countries which included Foreign Ministers and diplomats.
Apart from Minister Kasaila, Malawi had delegates from the media who included Misa-Malawi chairperson Teresa Ndanga, journalists Thom Chiumia, Kondwani Munthali and Pilirani Phiri.
Kasaila attended the conference aimed to defend media freedom from restrictive practices by governments, encourage participants to develop plans to legislate for a free press, help improve journalists’ safety and counter disinformation.
He said the administration of President Peter Mutharika “commits to ensure there is media freedom as enshrined the Constitution of Malawi.”
In her comment, Misa Malawi chairwoman Teresa Ndanga, said the conference has shed the light on areas that both governments and the media need to continue working on.
“Freedom of the media should not be handled as a gift to journalists. Governments have an obligation that they establish and sustain a good environment for the practice of journalism because that is the foundation for a free society, good governance and a gateway to development,” she told Nyasa Times at the conference held in a building in London’s docklands that used to house the UK’s Daily Mail’s printing presses but has since been converted to a clubbing and event space.
“On the other hand, those of us in the media need to demonstrate that we can self-regulate. That we can report professionally,” Ndanga added.
During a plenary which Malawi Foreign Minister also attended, the British foreign minister Jeremy Hunt warned that countries that restrict media freedom must be made to pay a diplomatic price.
“If we act together we can shine a spotlight on abuses and impose a diplomatic price on those who’d harm journalists or lock them up for doing their jobs,” Hunt said, without elaborating on the measures that could be taken.
Hunt said he hoped the event would become annual and announced £600,000 a year of extra funding to provide support and training to journalists to countries including Malawi.
“Media freedom is not a western value but a universal value. It frees a society from the abuse of power,” he said.
He said countries around the world , including Malawi, will be asked to have a national action plan to defend media freedom and that a task force will be giving reports annually at UN summits.
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Zimbabwe abducts, torture and kill its citizens which include journalists, why does Britain host its foreign minister and delegates? Why do they turn a blind eye?.
So according to Hunt, ganging up on those disagreeing with the western way of doing things exerts the most effective punishment. Apparently, it’s their way or the highway: no middle of the road approach?
Neocolonialism indeed.
As Britain loses significance among the major powers, it seeks to exert ruthless punishment to the weaker
nations, apparently. Is that really the way to maintain political relevance in the world, by promoting Western hegemony?
Azunngu amangotingana nkumatiseka kuti these niggers are good in talking not in acting.
Humble prayer to all donors and diplomatic missions in Malawi and specially to our biggest bilateral partners UK, please help us Malawians at large who are totally discontent with this illegally occupied presidency. We are tired of the DPP, and do not want them in power any more. In 2014 we kept quiet as we prefer to be peaceful as it’s our main quality known on the continent. The opposition n public at large knew that those elections too, were rigged but since dpp had cleaverly rigged those election, leaving no trace or evidence for the opposition to react, and hence we accepted those results. But this around, everyone, meaning the whole nation, our neighbouring n regional states, international observers, resident diplomatic missions, churches. CSO, PAC, everyone knows that these DPP stole our votes n rigged the elections in their favour. We all know that Jane goofed up, honorable judges are under immense pressure, there’s public outcry witnessed never before in the history of peaceful Malawi for such a mammoth crowd of disheartened people to go to streets nation wide….. Are all these signs n evidences present, not enough to make a judgement n decision by the diplomatic corps and to put pressure on this illegal and illegitimate n imposing president. Media is not only issue here. We Malawians have major issues to resolve and fast, and are in big problem under the rule of these highly corrupted dpp gang, and it’s only the diplomatic corps can come to our rescue. So please help us Malawians as these dpp officials are too powerful for us ordinary people. They are ruling in a mafia style with iron fist. Please halt your activities in Malawi n boycott the Govt diplomatically. Please ask all your respective countries and world bank and EU and other donors to suspend all monetary aid directly to this illegitimate govt. Instead, all humanitarian and other developmental aid should be channelled through so many reputable and accountable NGOs operating in the country thus truly benefitting the needy n vulnerables, and reaching the real beneficiaries. Giving any kind of funds to these illegit dpp govt is only going to fuel the existing rampant corruption and looting more. Read the people will PLEASE. At least put pressure for re-elections and let the court decide whether to disqualify the Dpp from recontesting or not. DONORS promote democracy in all the countries they have ties with, yet here in Malawi our democracy is at stake n has been totally compromised. In other countries where true democracy prevails, the current occupancy n imposing as the president would tantamount to coup, and these dpp party n it’s leadership has done a coup by forcefully getting sworn in as the president. MEC is caught red handed on how they gave false results to the masses, and falsely declared APM as the winner. Which country in the world accepts n announces winners of presidency based on results altered by tippex correctional fluids. This is taking Malawians as whole as foolish people and that we should accept those fake results and allow these same thugs to loot our poor nation and play with our future. NO!!!!!! NEVER!!!!! This time we will not accept them nor let them rule. Hence a humble request again to please try to make APM understand some sense that his stubbornness will take this nation into anarchy and tribal wars. And APM is doing all this at the expense of the masses just to benefit n enrich few of his like minded inconsiderate looters who are totally UNPATRIOTIC. PLEASE HELP US AND SAVE THIS BEAUTIFUL N PEACEFUL NATION FROM GOING INTO ANARCHY N CIVIL WAR.
Media freedom blind carbon copy to MBC KKKKKKK Presenters please wear blue.
Mudakanika nkhani ya jamal khashogi just because of the oil that uk gets from saudi arabia and in return the military that you sell to the saudis. Uk be serious on media freedom otherwise you put harsh conditions on poor countries just because you get nothing from these countries. The fourth arm of the government be cautious when dealing with western and asian countries. They are double faced.