“Pick Up the Phone, Honourable Namalomba”: MISA Malawi tells Information Minister

The Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) Malawi has called on Information Minister Shadric Namalomba to resume responding to journalists, describing his decision to stop granting phone interviews as an unfortunate development.

Speaking to local broadcaster Capital FM, MISA Malawi Chairperson Golden Matonga said the move risks limiting the media’s ability to provide accurate and balanced information to the public.

He stressed that access to public officials is essential for effective journalism.

“Journalists thrive because of access to duty bearers. The ability of journalists to reach out to them is what enables clarity on various issues,” said Matonga.

Minister Namalomba recently announced that he would no longer entertain phone interviews, arguing that his statements were frequently distorted when reported.

However, Matonga warned that restricting such access could undermine the media’s role in informing citizens about government policies and decisions.

He emphasized the need for dialogue between the minister and journalists to address any concerns.

“We would like to see the minister and the media engage if there are issues that have pushed him to make this position. It is only through dialogue that people can understand one another,” he told Capital FM.

Matonga further indicated that Media Institute of Southern Africa Malawi chapter plans to engage the minister to resolve the matter and ensure continued interaction between the media and the Ministry of Information.

He maintained that direct engagement between public officials and journalists remains a critical channel for communicating government policies to the public.