By Vincent Gunde
The Malawi Human Rights Commission ( MHRC) has recommended to the Ministry of Labour, Skills and Innovation to regularly and deliberately target labour inspection in sector prone to labour exploitation, including private media houses.
The MHRC has called on private media houses to adhere to labour laws and standard labour practices for all staff and interns including to improve their perks to above minimum wage.
This is contained in the report of addressing the alleged human rights violations including unfair labour practices as largely the private media houses are in violation of Section 31(1) of the constitution of Malawi which stipulates that everyone has the right to fair and safe labour practices and to fair remuneration.
In the matter of the welfare of low – ranked journalists in private media houses statement dated 18th June, 2026 signed by Chairperson of the MHRC Chikondi Chijozi Jere, the Commission said it received a complaint on 9th April, 2025 from Davie Danford Mchunga, a graduate media scholar based in the USA on behalf of low – ranked journalists working in Malawi’s private media houses.
The Commission said the complaint raised concerns about media houses failure to comply with labour laws including poor wages making journalists struggle to meet basic needs.
It said this practice has made journalists heavily dependent on ” Chipondamthengo” that prompt them attend events without invitation.
The Commission said this situation is creating a serious ethical dilemma, saying the Media Council of Malawi’s code of ethics and internal newsroom policies discourage journalists from accepting money or incentives from sources.
” With some journalists reportedly earnings as little as MK 50,000 per month, the complaint argues that poverty and exploitation have made this practice difficult to avoid,” reads the statement in part.
The Commission said it investigated the complaint received and made its key findings that poor perks to the low – ranked journalists in Malawi is negatively affecting professionalism and their role in facilitating the public’s enjoyment of the right of access to information.
It said some private media houses fall short at adhering to labour laws and standard labour practices particularly for low – ranked journalists and interns including perks pegged below minimum wages as stipulated by labour laws in Malawi.
A veteran seasoned journalist speaking on a strict condition of anonymity, said media managers, editors, producer, and journalists in both public and private media houses demand chiponda to write stories in no chiponda no story.
He said writing a story is a skill much to be appreciated and without receiving chiponda, it will be hard and difficult for Malawian journalists to write stories not because of poverty but the skill of writing itself demands a token of appreciation.
The journalist has challenged the MHRC that the day politicians in Malawi stop corruption practices, journalists will say bye bye to receiving chiponda and without this, Malawi journalists are not ready to write stories for no chiponda.
