MISA Malawi leadership race gathers momentum

With slightly over a month and some weeks to go before the elective Annual General Meeting for the Media Institute for Southern Africa (MISA) Malawi chapter, candidates vying for leadership positions have intensified their campaign efforts.

The three year term for the current MISA leadership comes to an end this year and the focus during this year’s AGM will be on who will lead national media grouping as all three current position holders are not seeking re-election.

As part of its efforts in selling their blueprint and seeking views from the fraternity, the camp which comprises of Teresa Ndanga, Cliff Kawanga and Mandy Pondani held an interface meeting with Lilongwe based journalists over the weekend.

Ndanga of Zodiak Broadcasting Station is leading the team as she is vying for the chairmanship with Times Group’s Kawanga as her Vice and Pondani of Times Group as well completing the team as National Governing Council member.

During the consultation meeting, the team said if elected, they will focus on among others seeking alternative viable sources of funding which will ensure that the body is still in a position to carry out training programmes in various areas of need.

The MISA Malawi Chapter has seen many of its activities slowed down since the body stopped receiving financial assistance from the NAMISA regional headquarters two years ago.

“We are planning mentorship programmes and in-house trainings and we want to establish cost effective means of ensuring that MISA is still able to carry out training programmes in areas identified to have gaps.

“It is also in our vision to make the body become more vibrant in transparency and accountability programmes. We will carry out research and investigative projects to drive this agenda,” said Ndanga during her address.

She also said if elected, she will play part in the implementation of the Access to Information law which has generated more interest both within the media industry and among the general populace.

“It will be vital to make MISA a more proactive institution that will support demands for information,” she said.

The team, which has come to be popularly known as TCM, also revealed their plans of fostering working partnerships between and among media houses.
“In our efforts to ensure the dignity of the profession, we will work closely with Journalists Union of Malawi to look into the welfare of journalists. We will also engage the Media Council of Malawi so that it is revived and to ensure responsible reporting,” she said.

Currently MISA Malawi is being chaired by Thom Khanje, with Yvon