MESN chairperson Steve Duwa told journalists in Blantyre during European Union EU funded Blantyre Press Club training on elections. Duwa said there are more journalists who have joined the profession a few years ago and have never covered elections.

He said it was important that such journalists should be targeted with more trainings of this nature. Duwa who is also Executive Director of the Pan African Civic Educators PACENET said the media have a duty of defusing tension that arises from political campaign pressure ahead of any election.

Duwa said the media should refrain from sensationalizing stories, heresy and promoting hate speeches.

“In countries such as Rwanda and Kenya, the media fratenity is blamed for causing anarchy which left thousands dead and millions of people displaced. We do not want the same thing to happen to Malawi. Let us promote peace and adhere to ethics,” Duwa said.

On women participation in politics, Duwa encouraged the media to give women a platform to express themselves and sell their manifestos ahead of next year’s tripartite elections.

He said there are more women who feel discouraged to approach the media for coverage because they feel the media’s focus is always on men who have resources and capabilities.

“We can achieve the 50-50 representation in Malawi parliament only if the media play their role by engaging women and giving them a platform to express themselves as men do. We are striving for gender equality and 50-50 representation in parliament,” Duwa said.

_{Kanache: The media have a great role to play}

 
President of Blantyre Press Club, Blessings Kanache, appealed to fellow journalists not to take sides and be fair in their programming as the country draws closer to 2019 elections.

Kanache also appealed to journalists to intensify messages encouraging people to register in order to vote.

“On average, around 81 percent of those expected to register have registered, but we can do better, we can hit 95 percent,” Kanache said.

Over 60 journalists attended the workshop which was funded by the European Union to the tune of 1.5 million Kwacha. Blantyre Press Club is a grouping of journalists from the Southern region and has over 100 paid up members.

^{Media practitioners take a group photo after the workshop}