The Malawi Electoral commission (MEC) says it expects local media to play a huge role in ensuring that the fourth coming elections are free and fair.
Chairperson for MEC Jane Ansah made the remarks when officially opening a two-day conference at Crossroads Hotel in Lilongwe for Media Managers on Tuesday,2 July 2018 Under the theme Consolidating Malawi Democracy Through the Ballot.
The conference is aimed at orienting Participants on the electoral process so that Malawi can have free, fair and credible elections.
Ansah said that her Institution organised this conference in order to discuss , share information on media and elections together with other stakeholders who are part and parcel of the electoral process.
“Media plays a crucial role in any election hence MEC is eager to see to it that through our media, come 2019 Malawi conducts free, fair and credible elections.”
Among other topics, participants at the conference will discuss electoral cycle approach to management of elections, voting process and results management, fake news , false news and clean media and Media ethics and code of conduct while on the second day participants will discuss how MEC will be dealing with complaints , peace journalism and conflict sensitive report by media houses, regulating monitoring of the media ,inclusiveness of gender responsiveness and disability in electoral process.
The conference which has been funded by UKaid European Union , Irish Aid and Norwegian Embassy hasattracted stakeholders from the academia, Media managers , major political parties, Civil Society Organisations and development partners among others.
