National Overview Malawi 2011 - Media Institute of Southern Africa

NationalOverviewMalawi2011By Francis ChikunkhuzeniLecturer in Journalism andMedia Studies, University ofMalawiSo This is Democracy • 2011 65

MalawiIntroductionIn the year 2011 the media in Malawihave, against the backdrop of a hostilepolitical environment and dire economicconditions, played significant roles towardsentrenching political democracyand stimulating social-economic developmentin the country. Overall, the mediahave provided participatory forumsfor citizens to freely voice out policypreferences and debate a diversity of issues.In addition, the media have endeavouredto inform the citizenry throughanalytical reporting on national and internationalcurrent affairs, agro-basedentrepreneurship and how the exerciseof power affects their livelihoods. Themedia have also exposed social injusticesand abuse of power and public resources.They have defended media freedom bystrategic networking with domestic andinternational advocates.However, the operating environmentin 2011 was, for the media, dangerous,oppressive and retrogressive. Members ofthe media have been physically assaultedwhen covering public functions such asmass demonstrations and sports. Theyhave received anonymous death threatsfor carrying stories critical to the government.Media workers have been fired andretrenched on political grounds underthe guise of organisational restructuring.Media houses have been banned fromcarrying live coverage of mass protests.All these events have occurred while theConstitution of the Republic of Malawiguarantees media freedom, freedom ofexpression and right to individual security.Media and PoliticsAll major political parties had internaltensions and conflicts that led toexpulsion of executive members, oftenfollowed by court cases. Civil societyorganisations staged, amid resistancefrom government, mass demonstrationsto draw government attention to poorperformance of the ruling DemocraticProgressive Party (DPP) in delivering onits promises to develop Malawi. Whilepolitical conflicts and tensions were fertileground for political news coverage,the media were inadvertently affected bythe nature of politics.The media in Malawi operate in apolitical environment in which poweris structured around political factions,where political competition is not basedon ideological differences among politicalparties, but rather perceived membershipentitlements in belonging to aparticular political faction. State-ownedand funded media, namely the MalawiBroadcasting Corporation (MBC) andMalawi News Agency (MANA), are controlledby political factions under thecentral command of the DPP, while commercialor community media are proneto align or, from time to time, shift editorialpolicies to any political faction, especiallythose from the opposition pool.Thus, private commercial and communitymedia are either included or excludedfrom entitlements accruing frommembership of the dominant DPP factions,leading to a structural dichotomybetween pro- and anti-establishmentmedia, which in turn results in editorialpolicy shifts in support of or in opposi-66So This is Democracy • 2011

tion to the ruling political party factions.This political polarisation in the mediais further exacerbated by opposingpolitical factions, which are ever-presentwithin either pro- or anti-establishmentmedia organisations. Thus, media organisationscomprise members of differentpolitical factions. This creates variousforms of opposing factional struggle, rivalry,antagonism and tension within amedia organisation.While at times factionalism has underminedthe role of media freedom incultivating a democratic culture as evidencedby sporadic cases of sensationalism,misinformation and character assassination,they have generally remainedresolute in their watchdog role. Competitionamong rival political factionsor members of a faction creates fertileground for news scoops. As such casesof corruption, violation of human rights,disregard of provisions of the Constitutionand all forms of social injustice haveoften been leaked to and published inthe media. Since membership to any factionis fluid, a shrewd media practitionermay navigate and enjoy entitlements ofdifferent dominant factions by switchingallegiances. However, this may not bedesirable as journalists will become tooclose to their sources to remain comfortablyobjective, impartial, fair and notcompromising the trust and credibility ofthe media houses they work for.Legislative environmentThe legislative environment in 2011was restrictive rather than enabling.Existing laws have been tactfully andsystematically instituted to stifle mediafreedom, mainly through selective enforcementand application of the law forpolitical expediency. Law enforcementagents have been utilised as legitimatemeans to control the media.In Malawi an accused person is presumedinnocent until proven guilty in acompetent court of law and the Constitutionrequires that such person shouldbe charged within 48 hours of arrest.Media workers have been arrested andcharged but cases do not proceed to ajust conclusion in a court of law. Thus,the State systematically uses the ‘arrestand-drop-charges’tactic to harass andpunish media workers and control themedia.New laws have been enacted to furtherlimit the scope of media freedom.The media have been fighting againstthe effecting of these media laws becausethey negate the Constitutionalguarantees to media freedom and freedomof expression.Malawi has introduced a law thatgoverns civil procedures in suits againstthe Government or public officers. It providesfor an inter-parte hearing wheneveran injunction is being sought againstany arm of government, effectivelystopping courts from granting injunctionsagainst government or its officersbefore they are heard. The law furtherrequires that government be given noticeof three days before the inter-partehearing is conducted.The media have often sought courtrelief against government infringementson media freedom. For example,when government banned The WeekendSo This is Democracy • 2011 67

MalawiTimes, the publishers Blantyre NewspapersLimited (BNL) had sought relief fromthe High Court to continue publishing.When Government introduced thesenew laws, legal relief was successfullyobtained pending judicial reviews.The second piece of legislation is theamendment to Section 46 of the PenalCode. The amendment empowers a politicalappointee of the President of theRepublic to censor media content in thename of ‘public interest’. The amendedsection reads:“If the Minister has reasonablegrounds to believe that the publicationor importation of any publication wouldbe contrary to the public interest, hemay, by order published in the Gazette,prohibit the publication or importationof such publication.”As submitted by many media freedomadvocates this amended section iscontrary to Section 36 of the Constitution,which stipulates that “the pressshall have the right to report and publishfreely, within Malawi and abroad, and tobe accorded the fullest possible facilitiesfor access to public information.”Forced by pressure from the internationalcommunity, which has withheldfinancial support to Malawi, and domesticcivil society organisations, which havethreatened further mass demonstrationsagainst it, the Malawi government hasreferred these two pieces of legislationto the Law Commission. While the developmentis welcome as it provides anopportunity to media freedom advocatesto input into the law reform process, itdoes not guarantee a favourable output.Institutional biases are likely to turn upsubstantively similar versions of legislationor as is often the case, governmentwill hold the proposals in a perpetualconsultation processes until memoriesfade. Hence, it is important to note thatall the laws that have been referred tothe Law Commission are still active andcan be used by the state pending the reviewand amendment processes.The common institutional biases arethree:1) The mandate of the Law Commissionends with a report containing recommendations;stakeholders haveto lobby Members of Parliament fortheir preferences to prevail.2) Cabinet, comprising DPP loyalists,performs the functions of processingand approving all governmentBills to be tabled in Parliament. Aswas the case with the CommunicationsAct (1998), Cabinet has thepropensity to ignore stakeholderrecommendations and insert its ownviews that are consistent with partisaninterests. Cabinet has previouslyignored recommendations madein the 1990s by the Civil LibertiesCommittee and Article 19, througha submission to the Law Commissionon how Section 46 of the Penal Codeshould be reviewed.3) Parliament, currently dominated bya DPP majority, has to ‘debate’ andpass Bills. What guarantee is therethat pro-democracy recommenda-68So This is Democracy • 2011

tions will be accepted by the sameParliament that approved the retrogressivepieces of legislation?Access to Information (ATI)The proposal to enact Access to Informationlaws has been on the drawingboard for over a decade. However, MISA-Malawi, through donor support, willlead the development of ATI policy andawareness campaigns and also conduct astudy on obstacles that hinder access toinformation. Through all these initiatives,Malawi is likely to take the ATI agendaforward.DefamationIn 2011 defamation cases against themedia were numerous. Unlike in the past,such cases have mostly been resolvedthrough an Alternative Dispute ResolutionProcess, in which any civil caseregistered with the Courts is examinedfor determination on whether or not itcan be resolved through dialogue andnegotiation. Media managers in Malawihave found this legal provision of outof-courtarbitration less costly, fast, informal,friendly and flexible. While theybemoan that in most cases media organisationsincur costs for lawyers, mediationfees and compensation, they findthe negotiations over terms of paymentand bargaining over levels of compensationaccommodating and conducive tomedia practice.State of broadcast mediaThe Malawi Communications RegulatoryAuthority (MACRA) has issued afourth mobile phone operator, CelcomLimited, with 100 shares wholly ownedby Mulli Brothers, a local business empireaffiliated to ruling DPP factions. Inthe broadcasting sector, MACRA has issuedlicenses to new television stations,namely: Galaxy TV, African Bible College(ABC) TV, Channel for All Nations (CAN)TV and Gateway TV.While it was not clear who ownsGateway TV or Galaxy TV, media reportsclaimed Galaxy belongs to PresidentBingu Wa Mutharika’s family. Out of 30applicants for new radio broadcasting licensesonly 8 were awarded, including:Maziko Radio, Mulhako Radio, GalaxyRadio and Usisya Community Radio.Mulhakho wa aLhomwe is an ethnicgrouping for the Lhomwe tribe whosepatron is President Mutharika and therefore,the awarding of a licence to thegroup has raised many eyebrows. Applicantsperceived to incline towards rivalpolitical factions have not been successful.These include TV licence applicants,Zodiak Broadcasting Station, BlantyrePrinting and Publishing Company, andJoy Radio, owned by former presidentBakili Muluzi. MISA-Malawi, which appliedfor a broadcasting license on behalfof Mulanje Community Radio, was alsounsuccessful.In this sector, the proposal to reviewthe Communications Act (1998) still remainsin the Government bureaucraticmill, five years after the draft was writ-So This is Democracy • 2011 69

Malawiten. The aim of the review was to makethe law efficient in wading off unduepolitical influence and in regulating environmentcreated by advanced informationand communication technologies.Instead of lobbying for expedientenactment of the proposed law, MACRAhas acquired equipment for monitoringnational telecommunications systems,including content of individual privatecommunication.State of print mediaThe print media have remained anexclusive privilege of few Malawianswho can afford to buy at least twonewspapers per day. Since the majorityof Malawians are constantly under afood security threat, as they live on lessthan one US Dollar a day, the domesticprint media market is highly confinedto the richest 10 percent, whose incomemedian is three times that of the poorest10 percent.The two biggest publishers circulate10 to 18 thousand newspaper copiesin a country of 14 million inhabitants.The sector remains an oligopoly dominatedby titles from Nation PublicationsLimited (NPL) and Blantyre NewspapersLimited (BNL) stables. One notable newcomer in this sector is Sky News, whichspecialises in political character assassinationand is linked to the ruling DPP.Print media in Malawi are operatingin dire economic conditions as governmenthas introduced a 16.5% valueadded-taxon the cover price of printproducts in addition to 15% import dutyon newsprint and other imported inputs.The cover price of daily papers has risenfrom K120 (about US$0.73) in November2010 to K200 (about US$1.22) inNovember 2011. The weekly newspapershave risen from K200 (about US$1.22) toK240 (about US$1.46).The situation is aggravated by shortageof foreign exchange and fuel. Tooperate, print media have resorted toalternative sources of foreign exchangeand fuel, which are too exorbitant. Poweroutages and inconsistent water supplyare part of the operational challengesfaced by media houses as well.While the print media market is smalldue to low disposable incomes among themajority of Malawians, the market is furthershrinking as existing customers areswitching to online media as a source of‘free’ news and information. Many mainstreamprint media organisations run anonline version of the print publication, butsuch outlays do not offer much return oninvestment, if any at all.State of ICT andTelecommunicationsLed by MACRA, Malawi has officiallyexpressed willingness and commitmentto migrate to digital broadcasting by2015, the deadline set by the InternationalTelecommunications Union (ITU).SADC set the deadline for 2013. But thepracticalities of digital migration and itspotential benefits on broadcast audienceshave not been extensively publicized,leaving many people in the dark and a lotvoices marginalised.The rate of ICT penetration in Malawiremains the lowest in the region. Only70So This is Democracy • 2011

4.5 percent of the population uses theInternet. Low levels of computer literacy,high cost of Internet services, poor infrastructureand scarcity of electricity aresome of the major setbacks to advancesin ICT and telecommunications. Furthermore,the Communications Act (1998) isoutdated and permits incessant politicalinterference in telecommunicationsbusiness.Gender relationsIn order to create a gender-consciousmedia practice, news media organisationshave drafted and implementedgender policies. In February 2011, overten media houses launched organisationalgender policies with support fromGender Links. While institutionalisationof gender in media workplaces is a verysignificant step in efforts towards developinga gender-equal media practice,further monitoring and support for thisinitiative is required. Currently genderblind,blatant gender stereotyping andsubtle gender stereotyping remain anissue in media content. But overall,every media outlet has deliberately givenprominence to gender-based violenceand promoted content on gender andHIV/AIDS.New Media and Social MediaMalawian journalists have embracedthe online news medium as a democratisationtool. Most media houses haveonline publications and the number ofstand-alone online news sites has increased.These sites have many interactivefeatures for user participationincluding facilities for user-generatedcontent.Many journalists practice blogging asa form of journalism to circumvent editorialor self-censorship in mainstreammedia houses. The media also participatein reflective professional forums, suchas the Google group, MISA-Malawi e-forum, where critique of media performanceis the main focus.During the mass demonstration on20 July, the online medium was the mostreliable and accessed source of information,especially when MACRA bannedlive broadcast of events related to theprotests. Sharing of information throughsocial networks has become a vital toolfor democratisation in Malawi especiallywhen mainstream media are gagged bygovernment or editorial policies.ConclusionThe resilience in troubled times andnoble task that the media in Malawiperformed in 2011 are milestones in thedevelopment of a mature media democracy.The media continue to actively participatein nation building even underpolitical hostility and economic crisis.The advocacy networks and resolve todefend media freedom are influencinggovernment decisions as is evident inthe way retrogressive laws were sent forlegal review.The economic crisis, impunity of theruling elite, legacy of old draconian lawsand low media penetration in Malawiare major challenges, which require interventionand monitoring in 2012. TheSo This is Democracy • 2011 71

Malawiaim should be to build on existing gainssuch as power of social media and zealof the media lobby to expand the spaceof media freedom through the Access toInformation Bill, review of the CommunicationsAct (1998), review of the civilprocedures laws, and also the review ofSection 46 of the Penal Code.If the current financial crisis is notproperly negotiated and government impunitytowards civil society recommendationson good governance continues,the media in Malawi will be faced with adouble tragedy, where political anarchymay frequently disrupt business and themedia market may shrink.PORTUGUESEVERSIONIntroduçãoNo ano de 2011 a imprensa emMalaui esteve contra o ambiente políticohostil e condições econômicas medonhas,jogou um papel significante nofortalecimento da democracia políticaestimulando o desenvolvimento socioeconômicono país. No geral, as mídiasprovidenciaram foruns participatóriospara os cidadãos expressarem livrementeas suas preferências políticas e debateruma variedade de assuntos.Além disso, a mídia empenhou-seem informar os cidadãos colectivamenteatravés de reportagens analicas e assuntosinternacionais actuais, empresariadoAgricola e como o exercicio dopoder afecta o seu sustento. As mídiastambém expuseram injustiças sociais eabuso de poder e dos recursos públicos.Eles defenderam a liberdade de imprensaatravés de uma ligação estratégica comdefensores domésticos e internacionais.Porém, o ambiente operacional em2011 foi, para a mídia, perigoso, opressivoe regressivo. Os sócios da mídia foramfisicamente agredidos quando cobrindofunções públicas como demonstraçõesem massa e desportos. Eles receberamameaças anónimas de morte por divulgaremhistórias críticas para o governo.Os trabalhadores da midia foramdespedidos e reduzidos sobre pretextospolíticos no disfarce de re-estruturaçãoorganizacional. Os órgãos da imprensaforam proibidos de fazer coberturas ao72So This is Democracy • 2011

vivo de protestos em massa. Todos esteseventos aconteceram enquanto a Constituiçãoda República de Malauí garantiaa liberdade de imprensa, liberdade deexpressão e direito a segurança do individuo.Mídia e PolíticaTodos os principais partidos políticostiveram tensões internas e conflitos queconduziram a expulsão de sócios executivos,freqüentemente seguidos porcasos de tribunal. As organizaçoes dasociedade civil estavam em cena, entrea resistência do governo, demonstraçõesem massa para chamar a atenção dogoverno ao pobre desempenho do partidono poder, Democratic ProgressiveParty (DPP) no cumprimento das suaspromessas de desenvolver Malauí. Enquantoos conflitos políticos e tensõeseram condiçoes favoraveis para coberturade notícias políticas, a mídia esteve inadvertidamenteafectada pela naturezadas políticas.A mídia em Malauí opera num ambientepolítico no qual o poder é estruturadoao redor de facções políticas ondea competição política não está baseadanas diferenças ideológicas entre os partidospolíticos, mas sim, no entitulamentopercebido de pertencer a uma particularfacção política. A midia estatal é financiada,nomeadamente a Malawi BroadcastingCorporation (MBC) e a MalawiNews Agency (MANA) são controladaspor facções políticas sobre o comandocentral do DPP, enquanto a midia comercialou mídia comunitária são propensasa alinhar ou, de vez em quando, troquempolíticas editoriais por qualquer facçãopolítica, especialmente as da arena daoposição.Assim, a imprensa comercial privadae comunitária ou estão incluídas ou excluidasdos direitos que provém da sociedadedas facções dominantes do DPP,conduzindo a uma dicotomia estruturaldo pro e anti-estabelecimento da midiaque resultam em mudanças na políticaeditorial em suporte ou em oposição àsfacções políticas do partido no poder.Esta polarização política na mídia éexacerbada mais adiante opondo facçõespolíticas que sempre estão presentesdentro das organizacoes do pro ou antiestabelecimentoda midia. Assim, as organizaçoesda mídia incluem membrosde diferentes facções políticas. Isto criavárias formas de opor lutas partidárias,rivalidades, antagonismo e tensão dentrode uma organização da mídia.Enquanto que às vezes o partidarismotem arruinado o papel da liberdadede imprensa em cultivar uma culturademocrática como evidenciado por casosesporádicos de sensacionalismo,desinformação e assassinato do caráter,eles geralmente permaneceram resolutosno seu papel de cão-de-guarda.As competiçoes entre partidos rivais oumembros de partidos políticos criamcondiçoes favoráveis para o furo de notícias.Casos como corrupção, violaçãodos direitos humanos, desconsideraçãodas providências da Constituição e todasas formas de injustiça social foramfrequientemente divulgadas e publicadasna imprensa. Como a membrasia paraqualquer facção é liquida, um agente damídia astuto pode navegar e desfrutar deSo This is Democracy • 2011 73

Malawidireitos de diferentes facções dominantestrocando submissões. Porém, isto podenão ser desejável como os jornalistasestarão mais proximos das suas fontes afim de permanecerem confortavelmentefocalizados, imparciais, justos e não comprometendoa confiança e credibilidadedos órgãos de imprensa pelos quais trabalham.Ambiente legislativoO ambiente legislativo em 2011 foi restritivoem vez de habilitar. Leis existentesforam diplomatica e sistematicamenteinstituídas para abafar a liberdade de imprensa,principalmente por execução selectivae aplicação da lei para conveniênciapolítica. Agentes de execução da leiforam utilizados como meios legítimospara controlar a imprensa.Em Malaui, uma pessoa acusada épresumida inocente até provado culpadonum tribunal de lei competentee a constituição requer que tal pessoaesteja sob custodia dentro de 48 horas.Trabalhadores da mídia foram presos epenalizados mas os casos não procedema uma conclusão justa no tribunal da lei.Assim, o Estado usa sistematicamente atática de prender-e- largar para molestare castigar os trabalhadores da mídia econtrola-los.Foram ordenadas novas leis que visamlimitar a extensão da liberdade de imprensa.A midia tem vindo a lutar contraos efeitos destas leis porque eles negamas garantias Constitucionais a liberdadede imprensa e de expressão.Malauí introduziu uma lei que governaos procedimentos civis em acçoescontra o Governo ou oficiais públicos.Provê uma auscultação inertna sempreque uma proibição está sendo feitacontra qualquer braço do governo, impedindoefectivamente os tribunais deconceder proibições contra o governo ouseus oficiais antes de serem ouvidos. A leirequer mais adiante que seja dado avisoprévio ao governo, tres dias antes de serconduzida a auscultação.A mídia buscou freqüentementealívio do tribunal contra as infrações dogoverno na liberdade de imprensa. Porexemplo, quando o governo proibiu oWeekend Times, os publicadores BlantyreNewspapers Limited (BNL), buscaramrecurso ao Tribunal Supremo para continuarema publicar. Quando o Governointroduziu estas novas leis, um alíviolegal foi prosperamente obtido ficandopendentes as revisões judiciais.O segundo pedaço da legislação é aemenda da Seção 46 do Código penal.A emenda autoriza uma pessoa politicamentenomeada pelo Presidente daRepública para censurar o conteúdo damidia em nome do ‘interesse público’. Aseção da emenda diz:“Se o Ministro tem razoes aceitáveispara acreditar que a publicação ou importaçãode qualquer publicação estariamao contrário do interesse público, elepode, por ordem publicada na Gazeta,proibir a publicação ou importação detal publicação.”Como submetido por muitos quedefendem a liberdade de imprensa, essasecção da emenda é contrária a secção36 da Constituição que estipula que “a74So This is Democracy • 2011

imprensa terá o direito para informare publicar livremente, dentro e fora deMalauí, e ser outorgada as possíveis facilidadesde acesso a informação pública.”Forçado pela pressão da comunidadeinternacional, que reteve o apoio financeiropara Malauí e organisaçoes domésticasda sociedade civil, que ameaçoudemonstrações em massa adicionaiscontra este, o governo de Malauí encaminhouestes dois pedaços de legislaçãoà Comissão Legislativa. Enquantoo desenvolvimento é bem-vindo, comoprovê uma oportunidade aos defensoresda liberdade de imprensa de contribuirno processo de reforma legislativa,não garante um resultado favoravel. Éprovável que preconceitos institucionaisvenham substancialmente por a tonaversões semelhantes da legislação oucomo é freqüentemente o caso, o governosegurará as propostas em processosperpétuos de consulta até que recordaçõesenfraqueçam. Conseqüentemente,é importante anotar que todas as leisencaminhadas à Comissão Legislativaainda estão activas e podem ser usadaspelo estado ficando pendente a revisão eo processo de emenda.Os preconceitos institucionais comunssão três:1) o mandato da Comissão Legislativatermina com um relatório que contémrecomendações; os socios têmque intrigar com os Membros doParlamento para que as suas preferênciasprevaleçam.2) o gabinete, incluindo os legalistas doDPP, executa as funções de processamentoe aprovação de todo projectode lei do governo a ser postoa mesa no parlamento. Como foi ocaso com a Acta das Comunicações(1998), o Gabinete tem a tendênciade ignorar as recomendações dossocios e inserir suas próprias visõesque são consistentes com os interessesdo partido. O Gabinete ignoroupreviamente as recomendaçõesfeitas nos anos 90 pelo Comitê deLiberdades civis e Artigo IXX , poruma submissão para a ComissãoLegislativa em como a Seção 46 doCódigo penal deveria ser revisada.3) o parlamento, actualmente dominadopor uma maioria do DPP, temde ‘debater’ e aprovar Projetos delei. Que garantia há que as recomendaçõespro-democraticas serãoaceites pelo mesmo Parlamento queaprovou os pedaços regressivos dalegislação?Acesso a Informação (ATI)A proposta para ordenar a lei deAcesso a Informação esteve no estiradordurante uma década. Porém, MISA-Malauí, através do apoio de doadores,conduzirá o desenvolvimento de políticasdo ATI e campanhas de consciêncializaçãoe também administra um estudosobre os obstáculos que impedemo acesso a informação. Através de todasestas iniciativas, é provável que Malauíleve adiante a agenda do ATISo This is Democracy • 2011 75

MalawiDifamaçãoOs casos de difamação contra a midiaem 2011 foram numerosos. Ao contráriono passado, tais casos foram resolvidosprincipalmente através de um ProcessoAlternativo de Resolução de Disputa, noqual qualquer caso civil registrado comos Tribunais é examinado para determinaçoesse pode ou não ser solucionadopor diálogo e negociação. Os gerentes damídia em Malauí acharam esta provisãolegal de arbitragem fora-dos-tribunaismenos custioso, rápido, informal,amigável e flexível. Enquanto lamentamque na maioria dos casos as organizaçoesda mídia incorrem custos para os advogados,taxas de mediação e compensação,eles acham que as negociações sobre ostermos de pagamento e contratos acimados níveis de compensação comodos econducentes a prática da mídia.Estado da mídia deradiodifusãoAs Autoridades Reguladoras das Comunicaçoede Malaui (MACRA) emitiramuma quarta operadora de telefoniamóvel, Celcom Limited, com 100 partescompletamente pertencentes aos MulliBrothers, um império empresarial local,afiliado ao partido no poder DPP. Nosector de radiodifusão, MACRA emitiulicenças a novas estações de televisão,nomeadamente: Galaxy TV, African BibleCollege (ABC) TV, Channel for All Nations(CAN) TV e Gateway TV.Enquanto não estava claro de quemera o dono da Gateway TV ou Galaxy TV,os relatórios da mídia reivindicaram quea Galáxia pertencia a familia do PresidenteBingu Wa Mutharika. Num totalde 30 candidatos para licenças de novasrádios, apenas 8 foram autorgados incluindo:Maziko Radio, Mulhako Radio,Galaxy Radio e Usisya Community Radio.Mulhakho wa aLhomwe é um grupoétnico para a tribo de Lhomwe cujopatrao é o Presidente Mutharika dai que,a autorga de uma licença para o grupolevantou muitas sobrancelhas. Os candidatosperceberam-se de que as inclinaçoespara as rivalidades de facçõespolíticas não tiveram êxito. Estes incluemcandidatos a licenças de Televisao,Zodiak Broadcasting Station, BlantyrePrinting and Publishing Company e JoyRadio, pertencentes ao ex-presidenteBakili Muluzi. MISA-Malauí que solicitouuma licença de radiodifusão em nome deMulanje Community Radio também foimalsucedida.Neste sector, a proposta para revisara Acta das Comunicações (1998) aindapermanece no moinho burocrático doGoverno, cinco anos depois da elaboraçãodo rascunho. O objectivo da revisãofoi de tornar a lei eficiente, vadeando ainfluência política imprópria e regulandoo ambiente criado por informaçõesavançadas e comunicaçoes tecnologicas.Em vez de intrigar por expediente daractificação da proposta de lei , MACRAadquiriu equipamento para monitorar ossistemas nacionais de telecomunicações,inclusive o conteúdo da comunicaçãoprivada do individuo.Estado da mídia de impressãoA mídia de impressa permaneceucomo um privilégio exclusivo de poucos76So This is Democracy • 2011

Malauianos que podem dispor comprarpelo menos dois jornais por dia. Como amaioria dos Malauianos está constantementedebaixo de uma ameaça de segurançaalimentar, como vivem por menosde 1 USD por dia, o mercado domésticoda mídia de impressão é altamentelimitado ao mais rico por 10 por cento,o qual cuja renda mediana é três vezesdaquela do mais pobre por 10 por cento.Os dois maiores publicadores circulam10 a 18 mil copias de jornais numpaís de 14 milhões de habitantes. O sectorpermanece um oligopólio dominadopor títulos da Nation Publications Limited(NPL) e estábulos da Blantyre NewspapersLimited (BNL). Um dos novosórgãos mais recentes e notáveis nestesector é o Sky News, que especialisa-seno assassinato do carácter político e estáligado ao partido no poder DPP.A mídia de impressão em Malauí estáoperando em condições econômicas medonhascomo o governo introduziu umimposto de 16.5% no preço da capa dosprodutos de impressão em adição aos15% do direito de importação em jornaise outras contribuições importadas.O preço da capa de diários subiu de K120(cerca de US$0.73) em Novembro de2010 para K200 (cerca de US$1.22) emnovembro de 2011. Os jornais semanaissubiram de K200 (cerca de US$1.22) paraK240 (cerca de US$1.46).A situação é agravada por escassezde câmbio exterior e combustíveis. Paraoperar, a mídia de impressão recorrerama fontes alternativas de câmbio exteriore combustiveis, que são muito exorbitantes.Interrupçoes eléctricas e abastecimentoinconsistente da água fazemparte dos desafios operacionais tambémenfrentados pelas casas da mídia.Enquanto o mercado da mídia deimpressão é pequeno devido a baixasrendas disponíveis entre a maioria dosMalauianos, o mercado está cada vezmais encolhendo enquanto os clientesexistentes estão mudando para a mídiaon-line como fonte ‘livre’ de notíciase informações. Muitos influenciam asorganizaçoes da mídia de impressão aelaborarem uma versão on-line das suaspublicaçoes, mas tais gastos não oferecemmuito retorno no investimento, senão mesmo nenhum.Estado do ICT eTelecomunicaçõesConduzido por MACRA, Malauí expressouoficialmente a vontade e compromissode migrar para a radiodifusãodigital até 2015, prazo fixado pela UniãoInternacional de Telecomunicações (ITU).A SADC fixou o prazo final para 2013.Mas a natureza prática da migraçãodigital e seus potenciais beneficios nasaudiências de radiodifusão não foramextensivamente publicitados, diexandomuita gente na escuridão e muitas vozesmarginalizadas.A taxa de penetração do ICT emMalauí permanece o mais baixo naregião. Apenas 4.5 por cento da populaçãousam a Internet. Baixos níveis defamiliarização com computador, custoelevado dos serviços de Internet, infraestruturaspobres e escassez de eletricidadesão alguns dos retrocessosprincipais aos avanços da ICT e telecomunicações.Além disso, a Acta das Co-So This is Democracy • 2011 77

Malawimunicações (1998) é antiquada e permiteinterferências políticas incessantesnos negócios de telecomunicações.Relações de gêneroAfim de criar uma prática conscientedo gênero na mídia, organizaçoes noticiosasda midia traçaram e implementarampolíticas de gênero. Em Fevereiro de2011, mais de dez casas de mídia lançarampolíticas organizacionais no gênerocom apoio da Gender Links. Enquanto ainstitucionalização do gênero nos locaisde trabalho da mídia é um passo muitosignificante nos esforços da criação deuma prática de igualdade do gênero namidia, a monitorização e suporte destainiciativa é necessaria. Actualmente acegueira do gênero, estereotipo ostensivoe sutil permanece como um problemano conteúdo da mídia. Em geral,todas publicaçoes da mídia têm dadodeliberadamente proeminência a violenciano genero e promoveram o contúdodo gênero e HIV/SIDA.Novos Meios de Comunicaçãoe Redes SociaisOs jornalistas de Malaui abraçaramo sistema de notícias on-line como umaferramenta de democratização. A maioriadas casas de mídia têm publicaçõeson-line e o número de sites notíciososonline tem crescido. Estes sites têm muitascaracterísticas interactivas para aparticipação dos usuários, inclusive facilidadesde conteúdos produzidos pelousuário.Muitos jornalistas praticam bloggingcomo uma forma de jornalismo para evitareditoriamento ou ego-censura nascasas publicas da mídia. A mídia tambémparticipam em fóruns profissionaisreflectivos, tais como o grupo Google,MISA-Malawi e-forum, onde a críticasobre o desempenho da mídia é o focoprincipal.Durante a demonstração em massano dia 20 de Julho, o sistema on-linefoi a fonte de informação mais segurae mais acessada , especialmente quandoa MACRA proibiu a transmissão ao vivode eventos relacionados aos protestos.Compartilhamento de informaçoesatravés de redes sociais tornou-se numaferramenta vital para a democratizaçãoem Malauí especialmente quando astendencias actuais da mídia são amordaçadaspelo governo ou políticas editoriais.ConclusãoA resiliência em tempos de tribulaçãoe as tarefas nobres que a mídia emMalauí executaram em 2011 são marcosmiliários no desenvolvimento de umademocracia de imprensa madura. A mídiacontinua participando activamentena construção da nação mesmo sobrehostilidade política e crise econômica.As redes de advocacia e resoluçoes paradefender a liberdade de imprensa estãoinflenciando as decisões do governo poisque é evidente o modo como leis regressivasforam encaminhadas para uma revisãolegal.A crise econômica, impunidade daelite governante, o legado de leis antigas78So This is Democracy • 2011

draconianas e baixa penetração da mídiaem Malauí são desafios principais querequerem intervenção e monitorizaçãoem 2012. O objectivo deve ser, criar ganhosexistentes tais como poder da mídiasocial e zelo da influencia da mídia paraexpandir o espaço da liberdade de imprensaatravés do Projecto lei de Acesso aInformação, revisão da Acta das Comunicações(1998), revisão das leis de procedimentoscivis, e também a revisão daSeção 46 do Código penalSe a actual crise financeira não é negociadacorrectamente e a impunidadedo governo para com as recomendaçõesda sociedade civil sobre boa governaçãocontinuar, a midia em Malauí poderáesperimentar uma tragédia dupla, ondea anarquia política poderá freqüentementeromper o comércio e o mercadoda mídia poderá encolher.AlertDate: January 13, 2011Person/ institution: Kandani Ngwira,Blantyre Newspapers LimitedViolation/ issue: VictoryThe Lilongwe Magistrate Court onWednesday, 12 January 2011 granted bailto Kandani Ngwira, a reporter workingfor Blantyre Newspapers Limited (BNL),publishers of The Daily Times, WeekendTimes, Malawi News and the SundayTimes. The Police alleged that Ngwirawas sending phone messages (SMS) toMember of Parliament for Lilongwe CitySouth Honorable Agnes Pene-Mulunguthat her husband was having extramaritalaffairs with young girls in thecity and that the journalist was going topublish the story in the Weekend Times.CommuniquéDate: January 13, 2011Person/ institution: MISA-MalawiViolation/ issue: LegislationEfforts by the Media Institute of SouthernAfrica Malawi Chapter (MISA-Malawi) tohave the Access to Information (ATI) Billenacted are slowly but surely bearingfruits. This follows release of a draft Policyon Access to Information by the Ministryof Information and Civic Education.AlertDate: April 15, 2011Person/ institution: Malawi HumanRights CommissionViolation/ issue: LegislationMalawi’s Chief Justice Lovemore Munlohas adjourned to April 11, 2011, hearingof a case in which the Malawi HumanRights Commission (MHRC) is challeng-So This is Democracy • 2011 79

Malawiing the constitutionality of Section 46 ofthe Penal Code.The section, which was amended by parliamentin November 2010, empowersthe Minister of Information to ban eitherimportation or publication of materialswhich, according to the minister, are notin the public interest.CommuniquéDate: April 20, 2011Person/ institution: FergusCochrane-DyetViolation/ issue: LegislationGovernment authorities in Malawi aretight lipped over reports of expulsion ofBritish High Commissioner to Malawi,Fergus Cochrane-Dyet. According topublished reports, Dyet has been given72 hours from Monday, 19 April 2011,to leave the country. The reasons forthe British envoy’s expulsion were notclear as government had not yet issueda statement on the matter.CommuniquéDate: April 27, 2011Person/ institution: MediaViolation/ issue: OtherJournalists in Malawi on Saturday, 23April 2011, went to the street to march incommemoration of World Press FreedomDay (WPFD). The aim of the regionalcelebrations is to broaden participation.All journalists, media freedom andfreedom of expression advocates acrossthe country would be able to take part inthe celebrations.May 12, 2011: The 2011 World PressFreedom Day (WPFD) main celebrationswere held in style in Malawi as the eventwas for the first time since 2002 held inMzuzu City, Northern Malawi.Since 2010,MISA Malawi has been rotating maincelebrations for WPFD in all the regionsof the country to broaden participationand hype and excitement as both themedia and members of the public havean opportunity to take part in thecelebrations.AlertDate: June 22, 2011Person/ institution: DemocraticProgressive PartyViolation/ issue: LegislationThe ruling Democratic ProgressiveParty (DPP) has taken advantage of itsnumerical advantage in parliament topass a controversial injunctions bill intolaw. The bill calls for an inter-parteshearing whenever an injunction is beingsought against any arm of government.The bill further requires that governmentbe given notice of three days before theinter-partes hearing is conducted.CommuniquéDate: June 16, 2011Person/ institution: Weekend TimesViolation/ issue: VictoryThe government of Malawi has finallylifted a ban imposed on the WeekendTimes, a sensational weekly tabloidwhich had sought relief from the HighCourt to continue publishing after theban in October 2010. The newspaper wasbanned one year after its first edition becausethe paper was not registered withthe National Archives of Malawi.80So This is Democracy • 2011

AlertDate: July 11, 2011Person/ institution: Malawi HumanRights Commission (MHRC)Violation/ issue: LegislationChief Justice Lovemore Munlo has allowedthe Malawi Human Rights Commission(MHRC) to file for certificationof the amended Section 46 of the PenalCode. The Chief Justice has furtherdismissed arguments from the attorneygeneral who wanted the court to throwout the matter.August 19, 2011: Chief Justice LovemoreMunlo on Thursday, 11 August 2011 postponedto a later date hearing of Section46 of the Penal Code after lawyers representingMalawi Human Rights Commission(MHRC) were not available for theproceedings to start. Reports indicatethat lawyer for MHRC, Chrispin Sibande,who is also Deputy Director of Legal Servicesat the Commission, communicatedto the court that he would not be availablefor the case as he had travelled.December 9, 2011: The Malawi governmenthas referred to the Law Commissionfor review some draconian laws recentlypassed in Parliament. The decision tohave the laws reviewed was announcedby Minister of Justice and ConstitutionalAffairs Ephraim Chiume and Leader ofthe House George Chaponda at a pressconference held in the Capital Lilongwe,on Wednesday 7 December 2011.CommuniquéDate: July 15, 2011Person/ institution: BlantyreNewspapers Limited (BNL) andNation Publications Limited (NPL)Violation/ issue: LegislationMalawi’s two major print media houses,Blantyre Newspapers Limited (BNL) andNation Publications Limited (NPL) haveannounced new cover prices. This followsgovernment’s introduction of a16.5 percent Value Added Tax (VAT) tonewspapers. Through separate noticespublished in the two dailies, NPL andBNL announced that The Nation and TheDaily Times respectively, as well as NationOn Sunday and The Sunday Timeswill be selling at MK200 (about US$1.33)per copy from MK170 (about US$1.13).AlertDate: July 19, 2011Person/ institution: ZodiakBroadcasting Station (ZBS)Violation/ issue: AssaultedThe situation is tense at Zodiak BroadcastingStation (ZBS), a privately ownedradio station located in the Capital Lilongwe,where two of its vehicles havebeen attacked by thugs on two separateoccasions. The first incident took placeon Sunday, 17 July 2011 while the secondincident occurred 18 July 2011 nigh.According to sources, masked men wereseen throwing stones and petrol bombsat the ZBS branded vehicles.So This is Democracy • 2011 81

CommuniquéDate: July 28, 2011Person/ institution: MillenniumChallenge Corporation (MCC)Violation/ issue: OtherThe international community continuesto withhold aid to Malawi followingwhat they have described as the country’spoor economic policies, deterioratinghuman rights standards and badgovernance. In the latest development,the Millennium Challenge Corporation(MCC), a U.S. Government agency, hasannounced that it is deeply concernedby recent events in Malawi and is placingan immediate hold on all programoperations in order to review its partnershipwith Malawi, including whether torecommend to its Board of Directors tosuspend or terminate its assistance.CommuniquéDate: September 9, 2011Person/ institution: ParliamentViolation/ issue: LegislationMalawi’s President Bingu wa Mutharikaon 7 September 2011 announced a newcabinet which has seen the bouncingback of former Minister of Informationand Civic Education Patricia Kaliati tohead Ministry of Information and CivicEducation, a ministry she has headedbefore. Kaliati has replaced Simon VuwaKaunda who has been deployed to headMinistry of Youth, Sports and Culture.Kaliati is known for her openness withthe media. She was dropped by Mutharikafrom cabinet two years ago. The30 member cabinet was announced onstate-controlled Malawi BroadcastingCorporation (MBC) and the appointmentis with immediate effect from 6 September2011.AlertDate: September 9, 2011Person/ institution: BlantyreNewspapers Limited (BNL)Violation/ issue: OtherTension has engulfed staff of BlantyreNewspapers Limited (BNL) following retrenchmentof eight journalists and othermembers of staff at the company. BNLis a subsidiary of Blantyre Print and Publishing(BP & P), publishers of The DailyTimes (the country’s oldest daily), MalawiNews (the country’s oldest weekly),The Sunday Times, The Weekend Timesand Times Lifestyle Magazine (a quarterlymagazine). According to newspaperreports, the eight media practitioners arepart of 44 members of staff BP & P hasdismissed to allegedly salvage the company.AlertDate: September 13, 2011Person/ institution: Ernest MahwayoViolation/ issue: DetainedPolice on 12 September 2011 arrestedjournalist Ernest Mhwayo for allegedlytaking pictures of President Bingu waMutharika’s Ndata Farm without permission.Ndata Farm is President Mutharika’sretirement residence in his home districtof Thyolo, Southern Malawi. The Farmrecently came under the spotlight whencivil society leaders requested the presidentto explain his wealth.September 16, 2011: Journalist Ernest82So This is Democracy • 2011

Mahwayo, who was arrested on Monday,12 September 2011 for allegedly takingpictures of President Bingu wa Mutharika’sNdata Farm without permission,has pleaded not guilty to the charge ofconduct likely to cause breach of peaceand has since been granted bail. Thecase appeared before magistrate AnneChikhadzula on Wednesday, 14 September11, two days after the arrest.CommuniquéDate: September 12, 2011Person/ institution: MISA MalawiViolation/ issue: LegislationThe Malawi Chapter of the Media Instituteof Southern Africa (MISA) has newNational Governing Council (NGC) membersbased on latest constitutional provisionsthat reduced the number of electedNGC members from 7 to 3. The new NGCcomprises Chairperson Anthony Kasunda,a news analyst from one of the publishinggiants Nation Publications Limited;Deputy Thom Khanje, Business Editorfrom another giant Blantyre NewspapersLimited, Publishers of the Daily Times,Weekend Times, Sunday Times, MalawiNews and Life Style Magazine. FormerTreasurer, Suzgo Khunga also from BlantyreNewspapers Limited, has maintainedher position as Treasurer.CommuniquéDate: September 16, 2011Person/ institution: MalawiBroadcasting Corporation (MBC)Violation/ issue: LegislationA court battle has erupted between employeesand management of State-controlledMalawi Broadcasting Corporation(MBC) following disagreements betweenthe two parties over issues surroundingthe merger of Malawi Television (TVM)and Malawi Broadcasting Corporation(MBC) Radio services.October 12, 2011: Some members of staffhave spent their third day at state-controlledMalawi Broadcasting Corporation(MBC) following a court order issued bythe High court on 28 September 2011,which directed that the employees hadto go back to their previous workplaces.The reinstated workers were previouslyredeployed to various government departmentsand institutions following themerging of MBC Television and radio.AlertDate: September 16, 2011Person/ institution: McDonaldSembereka,Violation/ issue: BombedCivil Society groupings in Malawi haveaccused President Bingu wa Mutharika’sadministration of muzzling freedom ofexpression following alleged arson attackon a house belonging to McDonaldSembereka, coordinator of a grouping ofhuman rights organizations. Sembereka,Acting National Coordinator of HumanRights Consultative Committee (HRCC),had his house allegedly petrol bombedon Saturday, September 10, by unknownarsonists. The house is located in Balakadistrict, Eastern Malawi.So This is Democracy • 2011 83

AlertDate: September 23, 2011Person/ institution: Civil SocietyViolation/ issue: OtherTalks between government and thecountry’s civil society have hit a snagfollowing a decision by the rights groupsto temporarily pull out of the talksclaiming that lives of some Civil Society(CS) leaders are in danger. Talks betweengovernment and CSO leaders began on16 August 2011 with the United Nationsteam in Malawi led by the UN residentcoordinator Richard Dictus, as mediator.AlertDate: September 23, 2011Person/ institution: Civil SocietyOrganizationsViolation/ issue: OtherSome Civil Society Organizations (CSOs)in the country are urging members ofthe public to stay away from work forthree days from 21 September, to forcePresident Bingu Wa Mutharika to addresswhat they describe as poor economicand governance issues. Coincidentally,Malawi and the rest of the worldcommemorated world peace day on thesame day.AlertDate: October 12, 2011Person/ institution: MalawiCommunications RegulatoryViolation/ issue: LegislationThe country’s communications regulatorybody, the Malawi CommunicationsRegulatory Authority (MACRA), has issuedwarnings to two private broadcasters,Capital FM and Radio Islam forvarious offences. According to a publicnotice published by MACRA on October7, Capital FM has been warned forbroadcasting a programme in which acaller insulted the country’s state presidentBingu Wa Mutharika during thestation’s ‘Day Break Malawi Programme’of 28th April, 2011.CommuniquéDate: October 12, 2011Person/ institution: MISA-MalawiViolation/ issue: OtherThe golden padlock award for the mostsecretive government institution has forthe first time since 2009 been acceptedby the Ministry of Energy, NaturalResources and Environment. The awardwas given out on October 5, 2011 at anevent in the capital Lilongwe, where theMalawi Chapter of the Media Institute ofSouthern Africa (MISA) unveiled resultsfor the 2011 Right to Know Researchstudy. During the same event, the goldenkey award, which is given to the mostopen and transparent governmentinstitution, was awarded to MalawiBureau of Standards (MBS).AlertDate: October 12, 2011Person/ institution: Robert ChasowaViolation/ issue: OtherOne of Malawi’s leading pathologistsDr. Charles Dzamalala from College ofMedicine, a constituent College of theUniversity of Malawi, has said a 25-yearoldPolytechnic student who died undercontroversial circumstances, did not84So This is Democracy • 2011

commit suicide. The student, RobertChasowa was found dead at the Collegecampus in the early hours of September24, 2011.as guaranteed in sections 35 and 36 ofthe Republic of Malawi Constitution,respectively.AlertDate: October 12, 2011Person/ institution: Youth forFreedom and DemocracyViolation/ issue: DetainedThe police in Blantyre are keeping incustody a youth activist Alex Moses,who is the president of an organisationknown as Youth for Freedom andDemocracy (YFD). Moses was deniedbail by the Blantyre Magistrate court onSeptember 29, following his arrest by thepolice on grounds that he was publishingand distributing a publication which thepolice said was seditious. According tothe police, the publication, known as‘Political Update’ was insulting StatePresident Bingu Wa Mutharika.CommuniquéDate: 26 October 2011Person/ institution: United NationsHuman Rights CommitteeViolation/ issue: OtherThe Media Institute of Southern Africa(MISA) Malawi Chapter ChairpersonAnthony Kasunda is among the Malawidelegation of Civil Society leaders whoon Monday, October 24, addressed theUnited Nations Human Rights Committeein Geneva, Switzerland. Kasunda seizedthe opportunity to inform the UN onthe serious threats that Section 46 ofthe Penal Code as amended poses toFreedom of Expression and the pressSo This is Democracy • 2011 85