With just one month to go before Malawians cast their votes on 16 September 2025, a coalition of media leaders, police and civil society organisations has emphasised the need to ensure that journalists are protected and press freedom is upheld during the elections.
At a high-level stakeholder engagement in Lilongwe, participants were unanimous in their belief that free expression is the heartbeat of democracy, and no election can be credible without it.
“An attack on a journalist is an attack on democracy itself,” said Media Council of Malawi Executive Director, Moses Kaufa, warning that election periods are often the most dangerous for reporters.
He added that the council will roll out a special accreditation system for both local and foreign journalists to make it easier for police to identify and protect them while on assignment.
Central West Region Police Commissioner, Barbra Mchenga Tsiga, while acknowledging past failings, promised swift investigations into any attacks on journalists. The service also revealed plans to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the Media Council to lock in safety protocols beyond 2025, alongside training officers to better understand press freedom and work effectively with the media in intense political environments.
The engagement was convened by the Media Council of Malawi (MCM) and MISA Malawi, with support from UNESCO.
By Nellia Malunda
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