By Durell Namasani
Malawi’s private media is facing an unprecedented assault on press freedom as Information Minister Shadreck Namalomba threatens to shut down media houses that report anything negative against the government.
Two officials from three of the country’s major media houses independently confirmed to this publication that Namalomba has warned their stations or publications could be closed or “otherwise dealt with” if they continue publishing stories perceived as negative towards the government.
The threats come as the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) faces mounting public pressure over a deepening economic crisis. Fuel reserves have completely run dry, with the government seeking a $120 million loan from Afreximbank to procure supplies. Fuel prices surged by over 40 percent in January, triggering warnings that higher costs would “feed directly into inflation, raising transport, food, and production costs”. Foreign exchange shortages persist despite reserves rising to $616.3 million, with banks accused of hoarding dollars and forcing businesses to the parallel market. A typical household now requires MWK 232,700 monthly just to survive.
With the DPP government under pressure, critics warn that the crackdown on media is an attempt to silence scrutiny at the very moment the public needs answers most.
