By: Gregory Gondwe

Martines Namingha (right) and Brian Ligomeka (left)

With Sunday Times editor, Brian Ligomeka taking the seat of chairperson and two BNL female reporters, Debora Nyangulyu-Chipofya and Sugzo Khunga taking the positions of general secretary and treasurer general respectively, it made positions in the National Governing Council of MISA Malawi chapter equally distributed on a gender scale.

Two other female journalists, Sara Munthali who works for Malawi News Agency, and Rebecca Theu, formerly of National Publications Limited (NPL), are executive members while vice chairperson is Anthony Kasunda, news analyst for NPL and Zodiak Broadcasting Station editor, Wisdom Chimgwede becomes another member in an eight-member committee.

Journalists voting

Ligomeka's main challenger for the hot post of chairperson, Hastings Maloya brought controversy to the elections when he announced his pulling out at a time when he had been given a chance to tell the members of his manifesto. He instead announced to contest the position of general secretary.

However, the AGM unanimously shot down his change of heart after the body's legal counselor, Kelvin Sentala pointed out that according to the body's constitution, candidates are supposed to submit their manifestoes 21 days before elections.

Out-going chairperson for the institution, a renown Lilongwe-based journalist and publisher, Martines Namingha said during his term he ensured the media body was recognised as a strong movement by government and stakeholders and as such he urged the newly elected members to conduct themselves in a manner that will not lower the organisation's image and integrity.

“In the course of dispersing our duties we should exercise high level of presentation that we compel people to hold us in high esteem,” said Namingha.

In his acceptance speech, Ligomeka promised to take the organisation to new heights by building on the foundation laid down by his predecessor.

“We will among other things broaden the funding base of the body by entering into partnership with a number of institutions,” he said.

Echoing on what his predecessor had said on encouraging the citizenry to make informed choices in the forth-coming general elections, Ligomeka also urged fellow journalists to cover the 2009 general elections professionally.

[25 Aug 2008 09:23]

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