The Media Council of Malawi (MCM) congratulates Honorable Shadrick Namalomba on his recent appointment as the first Minister of Information and Communication Technology following the September 2025 General Elections.
This Ministry stands at the critical intersection of governance, public discourse, and technological progress. We observe that his distinguished background in Trade and Accounting brings a unique and invaluable commercial and economic perspective to this portfolio. This expertise is crucial for driving policy that unlocks the financial viability of media enterprises, promoting their sustainable growth, and fostering business acumen within the sector. Given the rapid and specialized nature of the ICT field, we strongly encourage him to draw upon and ably use the deep expertise of industry technocrats and technical stakeholders, ensuring that Malawi’s digital and media policy decisions are both technically sound and economically strategic.
The Ministry of Information and Communication Technology is the engine that drives policy on independent media regulation, digital access, data protection, and press freedom—all of which are essential for nurturing a vibrant public sphere and deepening democratic accountability.
We call upon his distinguished leadership to champion and implement concrete strategies that ensure political and economic independence of the media in Malawi. A free media is not one subservient to political masters, nor one crippled by economic instability. We urge him to foster an environment where media houses can thrive commercially and report without fear or favor.
Furthermore, we appeal to the Minister to leverage his influential position to advocate strongly to the entire Cabinet and Parliament for unwavering support towards the principle and practice of robust media self-regulation. Self-regulation is the globally recognized hallmark of a professional and mature media sector, ensuring accountability and adherence to ethical standards without state interference.
MCM is resolute in its commitment and remains fully available to work in partnership with the newly elected government to protect media practitioners, safeguard the constitutional guarantees of freedom of expression, and ensure the continued existence of accountable and professional media that serve the inclusive interests of the Malawian public.
We wish the Minister and the entire cabinet every success in carrying out their duties.
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