The Media Council of Malawi has urged collaboration among media industry stakeholders to tackle the challenges faced by female media professionals.
The council highlights the important role female journalists play in shaping the media, covering major events, promoting gender equality, and advocating for social justice. However, these professionals continue to face significant challenges and threats.
MCM’s Executive Director, Moses Kaufa, emphasized the need for collective action to address these issues.
He made the remarks during a stakeholder consultation meeting in Lilongwe on Tuesday, where key industry stakeholders gathered to discuss and develop solutions aimed at advancing women in Malawi’s media sector.
At the meeting, the Association of Women in Media (AWOME) highlighted sexual harassment, limited leadership opportunities for women in media, and physical violence as key challenges hindering the effectiveness of female media professionals.
AWOME Chairperson, Dorothy Kachitsa, emphasized the need for organizations like the Media Council of Malawi and the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA Malawi) to intervene and help address these issues. She also urged female media practitioners to report incidents of sexual harassment and other related challenges.
“We have been encouraging them for the past years that whenever they come across issues that have been discussed today on sexual harassment or any other issues that are hindering their work environment, they should report. So, we are waiting for them to report such issues so that they can take them further. There are so many channels that they can use to report such issues,” she said.
In response to the issues raised during the meeting, MCM Executive Director Moses Kaufa stressed the importance of having sexual harassment policies in place at all media houses across the country. He advised those who already have such policies to review them to ensure they align with the realities of the experiences faced.
Kaufa also assured the gathering that the council will continue collaborating with media houses and other stakeholders to address the challenges facing female media professionals, aiming to create a conducive environment for them to perform their duties effectively.
“We will also provide female media practitioners with capacity building on professional conduct and safety both online and offline because most of them are still not aware of how they can conduct themselves in particular environments. In that regard, we have also identified roles of our partners, Gender Justice Unit, Centre for Human Rights and Rehabilitation, the academia, and the Malawi Police Service who have committed to help us address these issues,” he said.
“Gender Justice Unit has created some platforms through which female journalists can report when they are faced with harassment and any kind of violence. With regards to physical violence, we are looking at the commitment from the police service to work with us,” he added.
Also present at the meeting was the Malawi Police Service. Deputy National Police Spokesperson Harry Namwaza acknowledged that some officers are unaware of the media’s role, while some media professionals lack understanding of the police’s duties. He emphasized the importance of collaboration between both parties to ensure that each side operates within their mandate.
Namwaza thanked the Media Council of Malawi for organizing the meeting and assured female media practitioners of their security.
This initiative is part of a project being implemented by the Media Council of Malawi under the IPDC framework, funded by UNESCO. The aim is to strengthen the community media sector for sustainable operations and stability. As part of this effort, the council will also focus on building the capacity of female journalists.
