48 — Lack of capacity on the part of public bodies to meet the requirements of an ATI regime, including poor record keeping and lack of understanding of ATI as a right. — Illiteracy and lack of awareness on the part of Malawians to demand information as a right, is also a likely stumbling block. PERSECUTION OF JOURNALISTS The most important concern of Malawian journalists revolves around safety and security, based on continued attacks and threats levelled at journalists by state functionaries. MISA Malawi has documented 20 attacks on journalists between 2019 and the first half of 2020 and has prompted MISA to write an open letter to then President Peter Mutharika and the Inspector General of Police, calling for commitment and adoption of measures to ensure safety and security for journalists. These attacks are disturbing and a threat not just to the journalists, but also to press freedom in general. The police and even cabinet ministers and MPs, who are supposed to be exemplary in their conduct and defenders of the law, are found wanting as perpetrators of media freedom violations. Such actions interfere with access to accurate and credible information necessary for Malawians to make informed decisions. PUBLIC AND PRIVATE MEDIA Malawi has roughly 90 media outlets, with over 80 broadcasters — 40 of which are community, and three public broadcasters. The MISA Malawi Media Monitoring report on coverage of the 2019 Tripartite Elections showed that the private and independent media were broadly neutral and balanced. Regrettably, the country’s public broadcaster, Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC), with Radios 1 and 2 and Television, still operates as a propaganda tool for the party in power. The recent change in government has brought hope that these outlets would change and operate in the interest of all sectors of society. The current administration has promised to loosen government’s grip on the MBC, however, with no evidential change yet. The amended Communications Act (2016), which subjects all presidential appointments of the MBC and the Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA) board members to parliamentary confirmation, became effective on June 1, 2017, but critics doubt the new law will change how the MBC has been operating, if the MBCs conduct during the 2019 elections is anything to go by. MEDIA AND GENDER Sexual harassment has become a growing concern in the Malawi media, with reports of women being forced into relationships or risk losing their jobs. As a result, MISA Malawi has teamed up with the Association of Women in Media and Women Lawyers Association to support female journalists to fight sexual abuse and harassment in the workplace. This initiative involves commencing both criminal and civil proceedings against the perpetrators as ways of ensuring a conducive working environment for women. MEDIA AND DEMOCRACY The developments in the Malawi media in 2019 and first half of 2020 should be looked at as milestones towards a mature democracy. The media showed resilience in troubled times and continued to undertake their task of informing Malawians and holding those in power accountable. The media continue to actively participate in nation building even under hostile political and economic strangulation. The advocacy and resolve to defend media freedom are clearly influencing the development of positive policy reforms evident in the enactment and commencement of the access to information legislation. The new administration has brought hope, however, past administrations equally started on a positive and commendable note but ended up taking deliberate steps to strangle the media. It is therefore important for the media to rise to the occasion and guard against impunity by the ruling elite, advocate for the repeal of old and new laws that limit free speech and media freedom, and build strong safeguards and institutions to protect Malawi’s nascent democracy. Note: this is a condensed version of the full country report, which can be accessed online. See also: — SDG 16 assessment and trend: major challenges remain; moderately improving — Freedom House report — RSF World Press Freedom Index ranking