Publicise action plan, govt urges media

The Ministry of Finance has urged the media to help publicise the action plan developed to address the weaknesses exposed by Cashgate, to turnaround the financial and economic fortunes of Malawi.

Deputy Finance Minister Cornelius Mwalwanda said this yesterday in Mangochi at the opening of training workshop on Malawi Government economic, financial and accounting systems for journalists.

“The media has played a critical role in exposing such bad practices. In order to address the weaknesses exposed by Cashgate, government formulated an action plan with key deliverables within short and medium term,” he said.

Mwalwanda said government in collaboration with Misa Malawi Chapter has organised the workshop at a time the media has been instrumental in reporting theft, corruption and fraud of public funds in government.

He asked the media to use its power to inform, influence and garner support for the action plan.

The deputy minister said the workshop is aimed at increasing media access to information on economic and financial issues to better report, analyse and investigate financial economic issues in Malawi.

“The media has the power to positively or negatively influence public opinion through the news they carry,” said Mwalwanda.

Misa Malawi chairperson Anthony Kasunda said the training workshop has come at the right time because it will ensure that journalist improve on quality, accurate and analytical reporting.

He called for access to information, particularly from government, saying “without information, there is no accountability”.

Kasunda hailed the media for the improvement of standard in the few years, but said there is always room to do better.

The three-day training workshop which has drawn media practitioners from almost all the media houses in Malawi, is being held courtesy of Financial Reporting and Oversight Improvement Project (Froip).