US envoy trusts Malawi media, visits Times: ‘Put government on its feet’

United States (US) Amabssador to Malawi, Virginia Palmer, has said she has trust in Malawi’s mainstream news organisations and called for the media to continue putting government on its feet to ensure good governance.

Palmer said the media should continue its watchdog role so  that there is transparency and accountability in the management of government affairs.

She made the remarks when she visited  Malawi’s news giant Times Media Group in Blantyre.

“The media is incredibly important to everything in Malawi. To accountability, to donor funds being spent well, and to ensuring that there is good follow up on all that.

“I have a lot of trust in the Malawi media. And it needs to eb protected because it is precious,” said Palmer on Times TV.

Palmer said the role of the media is “to keep the State on its honest toes.”

She said media houses which have credibility should safeguard that.

The US ambassador also bemeoaned the antagonism between  the media and government.