𝗠𝗜𝗦𝗔 𝗠𝗔𝗟𝗔𝗪𝗜, 𝗠𝗘𝗗𝗜𝗔 𝗖𝗢𝗨𝗡𝗖𝗜𝗟 𝗢𝗙 𝗠𝗔𝗟𝗔𝗪𝗜 𝗝𝗢𝗜𝗡𝗧 𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗧𝗘𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗧 𝗢𝗡 𝗜𝗡𝗧𝗘𝗥𝗙𝗔𝗖𝗘 𝗪𝗜𝗧𝗛 𝗠𝗕𝗖 𝗟𝗘𝗔𝗗𝗘𝗥𝗦𝗛𝗜𝗣

Two leading media watchdog groups in Malawi have called on the state-owned Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) to guarantee balanced and impartial reporting during the upcoming election period.

MISA Malawi and the Media Council of Malawi (MCM) held talks with MBC leadership on Thursday, emphasizing the broadcaster's legal duty under the Communications Act of 2016 to inform the public "fairly, equitably, and transparently" on electoral matters.  

The media bodies stressed that MBC as the publicly funded national broadcaster must regain public trust by ensuring all news and programs provide equal opportunities for diverse political voices. They specifically urged MBC to feature balanced political commentary across its opinion shows and recommended that the Director General refrain from participating in such programs to safeguard the broadcaster’s neutrality on contentious issues like elections.

"Balance and fairness are non-negotiable," the groups asserted, highlighting that MBC’s coverage must create "a level playing field" for political discourse.  

In response, MBC leadership committed to fair election coverage and announced concrete steps: new programs allowing all political parties to present their agendas, and the deployment of recently hired district reporters to broaden election reporting nationwide. However, MBC also raised significant concerns. The corporation reported "politically motivated attacks" on its journalists and called on MISA and MCM to strengthen efforts to protect its staff.

MBC further expressed frustration that some news sources deliberately exclude its reporters when seeking diverse perspectives, potentially undermining its mandate.  

This meeting forms part of a broader push by MISA Malawi and MCM to engage all Malawian media houses ahead of elections, emphasizing professionalism and impartiality. The outcome is critical for Malawi’s democracy, as MBC’s reach and influence make its adherence to fair reporting standards vital for an informed electorate.Both watchdog groups pledged continued monitoring of all media throughout the electoral.   

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