When Chikangawa Forest fell silent, the media lost its way!

Malawi’s tragedy on 10 June—the unfortunate crash that killed the Republican Vice President Dr. Saulos Klaus Chilima and eight others—did not unfold only in the Chikangawa forest. It unfolded on our screens, in our newsrooms, and across every broadcast frequency in the country.

Social media screamed. But mainstream media stumbled too.

It was chaotic. Unfortunately, it still is. And, even more uncontrollable, now.

As the country waited for clarity, some print media houses and broadcasters rushed to fill the silence with speculation.

Unverified claims were aired as breaking news. Graphic images slipped into bulletins.

Panels debated conspiracy theories before investigators even reached the crash site. In the race for ratings, restraint became optional.

The ongoing Parliamentary Ad Hoc Committee inquiry has exposed the consequences: some eye-and-ear witnesses arriving with half-truths and narratives shaped by both viral posts and sensational headlines; officials forced to correct misinformation aired on prime‑time; families grieving while their loved ones’ images looped on TV.

So, why the lawlessness?

In fact, it is safe to say that Malawi has laws — the Electronic Transactions & Cyber Security Act, the Communications Act, the Data Protection Act — but, truth be said, all these laws, were built for a slower world.

These laws could not contain the wildfire of social media, nor the shockwaves of mainstream media missteps.

Every mainstream media house, print or broadcast, random social media influencers and any other digital idiot did as they please to please their audiences, and for some, to get likes and views for payment.

So what do I suggest Malawi needs to do now going forward?

I strongly believe that if we can put the following strategies in place, we can do much better.

Put in place a workable and practical National Digital & Broadcast Crisis Protocol — one authoritative voice, one verified stream of information.

Have a strong digital and broadcast forensic standards — protecting evidence from contamination by online rumours or premature reporting.

Put in place strong, punitive modern rules on harmful content — for both social platforms and traditional media houses.

Enact new strong cyber laws and repeal the old toothless ones to curb the scourge.

Conduct public education on digital and media responsibility — because, I believe that the TRUTH is a national asset.

I am sure these and many other factors would help the nation in the event of any other national tragedy.

The crash was a national wound.

Social media made it septic. Mainstream media, at moments, deepened the infection.

So far, I believe that the Ad Hoc Parliamentary Committee isn’t doing the inquiry any justice as the members appears to be emotional, taking sides and are inquistorial in their approach.

The committee is divided. One gang is looking to find guilt while the other side of the fence is in defence mode.

The question, therefore, is; what does this committee want to achieve in the end?

I am sure that as a country, we need to establish the truth that we already know, that the fatal accident was a direct result of broken systems that the nation has been operating on for over three decades.

It is time we gird our loins. We need to fix our systems or else we will continue having inquiries that bring nothing but gives people allowances.

Just imagine if this Parliamentary Hoc Committee members were not receiving allowances, would this committee took 90 days to finish the inquiry?

I think not.

But, I know, as many do, that Money makes people work harder.

If Malawi wants dignity, order, and truth in the next crisis, it must build a media ecosystem, digital and traditional, where facts outrun rumours, where restraint outruns sensationalism, and where grief is not turned into content.

This is not just a legal challenge. It is a moral quagmire.

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