The new NGC comprises Chairperson Anthony Kasunda, a news analyst from one of the publishing giants Nation Publications Limited; Deputy Thom Khanje, Business Editor from another giant Blantyre Newspapers Limited, Publishers of the Daily Times, Weekend Times, Sunday Times, Malawi News and Life Style Magazine. Former Treasurer, Suzgo Khunga also from Blantyre Newspapers Limited, has maintained her position as Treasurer.
The elections took place during a heated Annual General Meeting (AGM) which took place on Saturday, September 10, 2011 at the Blantyre Sports Club, Southern Malawi. The elections followed Constitutional amendments which, among other things, reduced the number of elected members to the Chapter’s National Governing Council (NGC) from 7 to 3. The NGC initially had positions of Secretary General and three members, which have now been scrapped off the Constitution to pave way for two co-opted members with a legal and financial mind.
The AGM mandated the newly elected members to co-opt a lawyer and an accountant to sit on the Council in line with the new Constitution.
The AGM brought together journalists, media managers, representatives from the Ministry of Information and Civic Education (MOICE) as well as representatives from Civil Society Organisations (CSOs).
Speaking during the gathering, Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Information and Civic Education, James Kalilangwe, assured the media that government, through his Ministry, was committed to ensuring that the media in the country operated without fear or intimidation. “We regard the media as our partners in development. Government appreciates and commends the media for the critical role it plays in promoting policies and issues of national development,” he said.
Kalilangwe, who represented the new Information Minister, Patricia Kaliati, promised the gathering that his ministry was also committed to ensuring that Malawi has legislation on Access to Information, which he said, was at policy level. He also called on the media to be professional.
Other speakers at the function included the Chapter’s National Director Aubrey Chikungwa and the then Acting Chairperson, Anthony Kasunda, who both explained to the membership the Chapter’s financial position as well as progress on SPP III, among other issues.
Apart from the Constitutional amendments and elections, the AGM also discussed the Chapter’s Audited Accounts, the Malawi Media Landscape and heard from various Committees including the Awards Committee and Legal Defense Fund.
Among other resolutions at the 2011 AGM, the members have agreed that membership fees should be adjusted upwards from K3, 000 (about US$18) to K5, 000 (about US$30)
Former members of MISA Malawi’s NGC include Brian Ligomeka who was the Chapter’s Chairperson, Anthony Kasunda who was Vice Chairperson, Suzgo Khunga who was the treasurer, Deborah Nyangulu-Chipofya who was the Secretary General and three committee members namely; Wisdom Chimgwede, Sarah Munthali and Rebecca Theu.
The newly elected NGC members comprise Anthony Kasunda as the Chairperson, Thom Khanje as Vice Chairperson and Suzgo Khunga as treasurer. //End//
Reagan Malumo
Programme Specialist: Media Freedom Monitoring and Research
Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) Regional Secretariat
21 Johann Albrecht St
Private Bag 13386
Windhoek
Namibia
Phone: +264 61 232 975
Fax: +264 61 248 016
Mobile: +264 81 311 2626
Official Email: reagan(@)misa.org
Private Email: reagan32002(@)yahoo.com
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