By Evance Chisiano & Martin Chiwanda

Mangochi, May 4, Mana: Minister of Information and Digitization, Moses Kunkuyu has said government will continue to uphold media freedom and will not allow unfair arrests of journalists in the course of carrying out their duties.

Kunkuyu gave the assurance at Sun Bird Nkopola Leisure Centre in Mangochi during the 2024 MISA Malawi Annual Media Award Gala Dinner.

He said there is a political will in safeguarding media freedom in Malawi as has always been demonstrated by the State President, Lazarus Chakwera on commitment to freedom of the press.

Kunkuyu’s sentiments come barely two days after Chakwera during the presidential breakfast in Lilongwe as part of World Press Freedom Day at State House in Lilongwe, said he had never ordered the police to arrest any journalist and will never do that.

The minister, therefore, said this was evidence enough of the assurance to press freedom which is also in the country’s constitution.

“The president values press freedom. Government will stand with all who protect freedom of the press,” Kunkuyu said, noting that for decades the media in Malawi has gone through a lot of challenges such that the current administration was committed to do more on the press freedom than previous regimes.

MISA Malawi Vice chairperson Chisomo Ngulube said MISA Malawi wanted media freedom during the 2025 general election, adding that the media is crucial in attaining free, fair and credible elections.

“As MISA Malawi, we will continue to report cases of police searching media gadgets, arrests, physical attacks in football matches,” Ngulube added while calling for unconditional guarantee in media freedom.

On the annual media awards, Ngulube expressed gratitude to all those who submitted their entries in various media categories.

“We received overwhelming entries despite limited time,” Ngulube said.

United States (US) Embassy Charge D’Affaires, Amy Diaz said the US Government values press freedom and applauded Malawi for its Access to Information Act.

“This is an important piece of legislation. Freedom of press and democracy go hand in hand,” she said, adding that the Access to Information Act is a true commitment to open press, freedom of press and true democracy.

She, therefore, called upon government and state structures to guard against all forces that threaten media freedom such as arrests, saying failure to safeguard media freedom will only dent government image.

“We will not remain silent on issues that impinge on media freedom,” she said, adding that the US Government will partner with the media in contributing to free and credible elections.

In his keynote address, Commissioner responsible for Media and Civic Education for the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC), Francis Kasaila said the 2024 MISA Annual Media Awards theme: “Guardians of democracy: Championing Media Independence for Credible Elections’ came 30 years after the multiparty democracy.”

Kasaila said the theme also called on the media to contribute to free, fair and credible elections that should be acceptable by all electoral stakeholders and that MEC will always recognize the media that empower citizens to make well-informed decisions.

“MEC recognizes the role of the media in elections. MEC is optimistic that there will be good turn up in the forthcoming general elections than years before,” Kasaila added.

He disclosed that MEC will reach out to train more than 300 journalists on electoral issues including amended electoral laws.