networking, information and programme sharing, and fighting for the rights of community broadcasters in Malawi. In 2005 another broadcasters’ association was formed at the prompting of MACRA. The Malawi Broadcasters’ Association (MABA) comprises mostly private and community radio stations, with an interim secretary being NAMISA, the Malawi Chapter of MISA. It remains to be seen if MABA will be another paper tiger like MCORA. The National Editors Forum (NEFORM), a local chapter of the Southern African Editors’ Forum (SAEF), brings together senior editors, trainers and reporters. The media fraternity is slowly feeling the effects of NEFORM’s activities. Attempts at self-regulation have made little headway because the Media Council of Malawi, founded in 1998, has not been functional for a long time. MISA and NEFORM have pledged to help resuscitate the council so that it can monitor media compliance with journalism ethics. Conclusion Political polarisation appears to have affected the media in 2005. President Mutharika and his wife’s fury over the media came about essentially because of the fallout between the President and the UDF. Mutharika and the government often accused the media of being sponsored and manipulated by former president Bakili Muluzi in an effort to destabilise the government. Noting the behaviour of some journalists since 1994, government allegations that certain journalists are plants and mercenaries bankrolled by opposition politicians don’t seem too farfetched. Although the Media Council of Malawi may not be functioning now, its code of ethics needs to be followed to avoid a similar picture next year. (Footnotes) 1 Source, Jika Nkolokosa, General Manager, Blantyre Newspapers LTD 2 Source, Edward Chitsulo, Editor, Nation 3 Source, Boniface Kadazi, Accountant, The Chronicle 4 Source, Martines Naminga, Editor, Proprietor, Dispatch Newspapers 5 Source, Gilbert Tembo, Editor, Boma Lathu So This Is Democracy? 2005 -66- Media Institute of Southern Africa