Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
04LILONGWE143
2004-02-20 11:15:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Lilongwe
Cable title:  

Elections: State Media Denying Equal Access

Tags:  PGOV KDEM KPAO MI 
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UNCLAS LILONGWE 000143 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KDEM KPAO MI
SUBJECT: Elections: State Media Denying Equal Access

REF: A) 03 LILONGWE 1202

B) 03 LILONGWE 1058

UNCLAS LILONGWE 000143

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KDEM KPAO MI
SUBJECT: Elections: State Media Denying Equal Access

REF: A) 03 LILONGWE 1202

B) 03 LILONGWE 1058


1. With May 2004 presidential and parliamentary
elections approaching, state-owned radio and television
persists in almost exclusively broadcasting ruling party
campaigning and pro-government news. Neither the
Electoral Commission nor the Malawi Communications
Regulatory Authority is willing to take any action to
ensure balanced coverage. Unequal access to public media
for the opposition during the run-up to the elections
clearly jeopardizes Malawi's chances of holding free and
fair elections.


2. Members of the donor community (UK, EU, Germany,
France, Norway, UNDP and the U.S.) issued a joint
statement on January 30 calling on the Information
Ministry and Boards of Directors of state-owned Malawi
Broadcasting Corporation and Television Malawi to ensure
equitable coverage of all political parties. Minister of
Information Bernard Chisale dismissed donor concerns and
insisted that the opposition would receive coverage of
their events if they informed reporters of their
functions and provided them transportation (as does the
ruling party). This argument, however, is specious in
that much of the reporting is not live and journalists
often do not actually attend functions they report about.


3. Comment. Post has been producing a monthly overview
of state radio news, highlighting partisan coverage. The
reports have made the pro-government bias at state media
crystal clear to a wide readership, including government
officials, donors, and private media. There is almost no
positive coverage of opposition news or opposition
campaigning, and little prospect that the situation will
change at least until the beginning of the "official"
campaign period in late March. End comment.

Browning