By Smile Hamilton, Malawi
A concerned media scholar, Davie Mchinga, has formally petitioned the Malawi Human Rights Commission to investigate the welfare of journalists in Malawi.
Mchinga claims that many low-ranking media personnel are underpaid and have been reduced to relying on “chipondamtheng” or gifts from news sources to survive.
According to Mchinga, journalists attend events uninvited just to receive these gifts, as their monthly earnings are insufficient to cover basic needs.
He has urged the Commission to engage with the Media Institute for Southern Africa and the Media Council of Malawi to protect journalists’ welfare.
MISA Malawi Chairperson Golden Matonga acknowledged the challenges faced by journalists and stated that his organization is working with media managers to improve the situation.
Matonga emphasized the importance of media viability, saying media owners need to generate sufficient income to pay journalists adequately.
The petition highlights the struggles faced by journalists in Malawi and raises questions about the sustainability of the media industry in the country.
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