MISA Malawi Celebrates Repeal of Sedition Laws, Amendment of Protected Flag, Emblems, and Names Act

Malawi: MISA Malawi, a media rights organization in Malawi, has released a statement celebrating the government's decision to repeal sedition laws and amend the Protected Flag, Emblems, and Names Act.

MISA Malawi thanked Members of Parliament for their swift action in passing the necessary legislation and called on the government to continue reviewing and repealing outdated and undemocratic laws.

"We would like to thank our Members of Parliament (MPs) for expeditiously passing the Penal Code (Amendment) and Protected Flag, Emblems and Names Act (Amendment) Bills, a breath of fresh air in the country's freedom of expression and media landscape," the statement reads.

Despite these positive developments, MISA Malawi acknowledged that there were still challenges facing the media in Malawi in 2022.

These included the closure of television and radio stations due to delays in paying license fees, attacks on journalists, and a lack of funding for the Malawi Human Rights Commission's Access to Information activities.

MISA Malawi has called on the government to address these issues and work towards creating a more open and democratic media landscape.

In conclusion, MISA Malawi expressed gratitude to its members, partners, stakeholders, and the general public for their support and looks forward to continuing to work towards a free and open media environment in the coming year.