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Using extensive literature reviews, quantitative content analysis of program schedules, and such ... more Using extensive literature reviews, quantitative content analysis of program schedules, and such ethnographic research techniques as focus group discussions, this study into Public Service Broadcasting in Malawi concludes that there was not much change from 2008 to 2009 in development programming at both the MBC and TVM, whose development programming seems to lack strategic vision, mission, and measurable objectives. The study also found that the time dedicated to development issues was very low for a country that is in serious need of development in all its manifestations. In 2008 MBC Radio 1 dedicated to development content, 22.1% (7, 183 minutes) per month which went up by 1.8% to 23.9% (7,752 minutes) in 2009. In 2008, TVM allocated 3.9% (1,380 minutes) to development broadcasting which fell down by 0.4% to 3.5% (1,260 minutes) in 2009. The study further concludes that development programming is treated like pure commercial programming. Programs are removed from the schedule as soon as sponsorship expires, regardless of whether or not those programs are important for and popular with listeners or viewers. Actually, at MBC 1 sponsored programs constituted 6,052 minutes per month or 19% of the entire broadcast duration. Development broadcasting content indicators were defined using Panos Southern Africa (PSAf)'s thematic areas, which are: HIV/AIDS, Media Development and Communication Technologies, Environment, natural resources and sustainable development, Governance and Development, Health, Vulnerable groups, and Gender and women empowerment and the seven or so priorities of the Malawi Growth and Development Strategy (MGDS) (see Figure 1). The study recommends, inter alia, that a) The proposed merger between TVM and MBC should be hastened to create efficient Public Service Broadcasting management, editorial and production teams. The study also proposes that MBC's departments of research, programs and the Development Broadcasting Unit (DBU) merge or at least work closely together to increase the volume and quality of development programming a bit cheaply as savings will be made on transport among other field expenses. The merged MBC-TVM should

Journal of Development and Communication Studies, 2021

Narrative Persuasion: Moderating effects of Character identification on relationship between mess... more Narrative Persuasion: Moderating effects of Character identification on relationship between message format and intention to screen for cervical cancer among women in agricultural sector in Kiambu County, Kenya.

Journal of Development and Communication Studies, 2020

Journal of Development and Communication Studies, 2019

His next edited volume on how to build democratic institutions through diplomacy and media engage... more His next edited volume on how to build democratic institutions through diplomacy and media engagement will have a section that addresses social media and behavioral science.

Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) migration is a process of changing the mode of broadcasting ... more Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) migration is a process of changing the mode of broadcasting from analogue to digital broadcasting. DTT migration was commissioned by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) in 2006 in response to the scarcity of spectrum as analogue broadcasting is said to consume more spectrum than digital broadcasting. DTT migration is a Global Media Policy and by signing to this agreement, Malawi has adopted compulsory DTT migration as a national communications policy issue.
This paper argues that the implementation of DTT migration is being hampered by power relations among the actors in Malawi communications sector who have taken advantage of its out dated Communications Act. Secondly it shall argue that DTT migration is not an economically attractive policy for a country like Malawi which has an undeveloped TV industry. However Malawi is still implementing DTT migration as it is a compulsory global media policy.
Communications Sector in Malawi has three actors the government, the regulator Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA) and industry comprising of operators licenced to operate in Broadcasting, Telecommunications, Postal, and ICT sectors. This paper therefore looks at the power relations of these actors in the formulation and implementation of the DTT migration Policy at national level and how it has impacted on the sector.

The innate human power to innovate: A Malawian boy concentrates on how to make his 'car' work. Pi... more The innate human power to innovate: A Malawian boy concentrates on how to make his 'car' work. Pictures taken with the consent of the boy's mother. © LZ Manda, 2016 iv

The Bill seeks to provide for access to information that is in the custody of public bodies and... more The Bill seeks to provide for access to information that is in the custody of public bodies and private bodies. The Bill contains sixty clauses and is divided into the following eleven parts –
Part I contains preliminary provisions including the short title and interpretation of terms used in the Bill. The Bill, when enacted, will apply to information holders which comprise public bodies and relevant private bodies. A person shall have a right to access information that is in the custody of an information holder in so far as that information is required for the exercise of his rights. The Bill creates a presumption of disclosure of information except in cases where non-disclosure of the information is specifically permitted under listed exemptions.

Part II designates the Malawi Human Rights Commission as the oversight institution for the implementation of the Bill. The Commission shall have powers to give directions of a general nature, to all institutions in connection to their duties and obligations under this Bill. The Commission shall have powers to review decisions of information holders with regard to requests for disclosure of information.

Part III provides for compliance with access to information obligations of information holders provided by the Bill. Information holders shall appoint or designate information officers and establish processes and procedures for implementing obligations related to disclosure of information. Information holders shall keep, maintain and preserve information in their custody or under their control, in a form that is complete, organized and accessible. The information shall be kept for a period of seven years and thereafter, be transferred to the National Archives where it shall be accessible by the public. To ensure accessibility of information, a public body shall, on a regular basis, conduct training of its staff on the effective implementation of the Bill and put in place the requisite infrastructure and mechanisms for implementation of the provisions of the Bill.

Part IV provides for disclosure of certain categories of information. A public body is required to disclose information generated or received by the public body within thirty days of the generation or receipt of the information. The information to be disclosed includes manuals, polices, rules used by, programmes run by, reports of surveys conducted by and details of employees of the public body.

Part V lays down the procedure for access to information held by information holders. Requests may be oral or written and shall be submitted to information officers who shall process the applications within a prescribed period. Information holders shall notify third parties who may be affected by the disclosure of information that is the subject of a request who shall be given an opportunity to make submissions regarding the disclosure of such information before it is disclosed by the information holder. Information may be disclosed partially where some of the information is determined to be exempt from public disclosure. An information holder may refer a request for information to another institution with greater interest in the information requested and notify the applicant. The Minister may prescribe fees payable to cover, among other things, costs of reproduction of information to be disclosed. An information holder may refuse to disclose information that is exempt from public disclosure and inform an applicant in writing of the decision. An information holder shall also notify an applicant when requested information cannot be found and give evidence of steps taken to find the information.

Part VI makes provision for grounds for exempting information from disclosure. Information may not be disclosed where that information relates to the privacy of a person, preserves national defence and security, relates to the life, health and safety of a person, is privileged information under law, relates to ongoing academic or recruitment processes or relates to Malawi’s international relations. An information holder will have to show proof that information requested is exempt from disclosure before denying to disclose information that has been requested. Where public interest outweighs the interest that is protected by an exemption, the information requested shall be disclosed. A third party whose interests are protected by an exemption shall be notified of the disclosure of information where the protected interest is outweighed by the public interest. An information holder may refuse to grant access to information on grounds that a request for that information is made vexatiously.
Part VII makes provision for internal review of decisions of information holders relating to a grant or denial of access to information. An aggrieved person may lodge an application for review to an information officer or other authorized officer of an information holder, for onward submission to the head of the information holder. The head of the information holder shall make a decision on review within five working days. Where on review, the application to access information is granted, the applicant may access the information either immediately or on payment of the required fees where applicable. Where the head of the information holder decides not to grant access to the information, the applicant shall be informed of the reasons for the decision and his right to have that decision reviewed by the Commission.

Part VIII makes provision for the review of decisions of information holders. A person that is aggrieved by a decision of an information holder after an internal review of a decision may apply for a review of the decision to the Commission. An application for review of a decision by the Commission shall only be lodged after exhaustion of the internal review mechanism under Part IX.

Part IX makes provision for reporting requirements with regard to the implementation of the Bill. Information holders shall submit annual reports to the Commission on the compliance with their obligations under this Bill. The Commission shall include information in on the general implementation of access to information by information holders in its report to the National Assembly.

Part X makes provision for offences and penalties. Offences in this Bill include destruction of information as to prevent disclosure, wrongful denial access to information either through negligence, recklessness, failure to proactively disclose information or submit annual reports, and penalties therefor. A person, who without the authority of an information holder, misuses disclosed information commits an offence.

Part XI contains miscellaneous provisions. The Minister may make regulations for the effective implementation of the Bill. Information holders shall comply with the provisions of this Act within twelve months of its commencement.

This edition has been dedicated to Democracy, Corruption and Development in Africa. It addresses ... more This edition has been dedicated to Democracy, Corruption and Development in Africa. It addresses the following issues:
a) Democracy: Are regular elections enough? Do election observer missions matter?
b) How can Africa strengthen its democracy and achieve development?
c) How are data used and abused to manipulate election results?
d) Does corruption reduce chances of a sitting president or party n power being reelected?
e) How have governance institutions failed or slowed down African development?
f) How can aid help Africa to develop?
g) What role should mass media, community media, social media and formal education play to catalyze African democracy and development?

This study used in-depth interviews to investigate the conditions of service and welfare of journ... more This study used in-depth interviews to investigate the conditions of service and welfare of journalists in Malawi. It found that while the Media Council of Malawi code of professional ethics and standards and in-house policies expected the best out the journalists, the majority of the journalists, mostly junior reporters, were grossly underpaid; far below the monthly living wage. It also found that dejection, fatalism, and individualism pervade journalists so much so that some of them seemed resigned to their status quo. Media owners seemed unwilling to engage in any debate about their journalist employees' welfare. The study concludes that under such circumstances, many Malawian journalists were likely to be tempted to take bribes and engage in other forms of corruption as coping mechanisms.

Chapter Outlines…………………………………………….. 7 Preface…………………………………………………………………….. 10

Smallholder farmers in Malawi account for over 80 percent of the population and if the country is... more Smallholder farmers in Malawi account for over 80 percent of the population and if the country is to achieve food security, poverty reduction and sustainable development attention to agricultural extension is a sine qua non. Since 2000, Malawi introduced extension reforms to better serve the needs of smallholder farmers. Some of the agricultural and rural development programs are quite complex, but as this study found, training to cope with their sophistication is lacking. Further, though extension workers are asked to facilitate entire development interventions, their training remains primarily in agriculture. This paper argues that extension workers need training in Communication for Development (C4D), an emerging body of knowledge for addressing problems, such as participation, integration and capacity building for them to relate more effectively with development partners. Thus, this paper proposes a C4D framework for strengthening extension in Malawi and encourages the Government of Malawi to trial this concept.

Journal of Development and Communication Studies, 2021

Journal of Development and Communication Studies, 2020

Journal of Development and Communication Studies, 2019

Chapter Outlines…………………………………………….. 7 Preface…………………………………………………………………….. 10

Journal of Development and Communication Studies, 2021

Academia Letters, 2021

Using evidence from field key informant and written questionnaire interviews with extension offic... more Using evidence from field key informant and written questionnaire interviews with extension officers, focus group discussions with some smallholder farmers, analysis of packaging labels, and a detailed literature review, this paper argues that Malawian smallholder farmers handle herbicides without adequate information about the advantages and negative impacts of such herbicides because, it appears, the extension workers themselves lack requisite knowledge on herbicide toxicity. Further, the study finds that herbicides are marketed in Malawi in breach of the law as the information on the herbicide labels is sometimes inadequate, misleading, and unavailable in local languages. This exposes farmers to potentially carcinogenic chemicals without their knowledge. The paper recommends, inter alia, that an awareness campaign about the long term harmful effects of herbicides be mounted countrywide and internationally to protect illiterate smallholder farmers from herbicide toxicity.

Using evidence from field key informant and written questionnaire interviews with agriculture ext... more Using evidence from field key informant and written questionnaire interviews with agriculture extension officers, focus group discussions with some smallholder farmers, analysis of packaging labels, and a detailed literature review, this paper argues that Malawian smallholder farmers handle herbicides without adequate information about the advantages and negative impacts of such herbicides because, it appears, the agriculture extension workers themselves lack requisite knowledge on herbicide toxicity. Further, the study finds that herbicides are marketed in Malawi in breach of Malawian law and in contravention of the Rotterdam Convention as the information on the herbicide labels is sometimes inadequate, misleading, and unavailable in local languages. This exposes farmers to potentially carcinogenic chemicals without their knowledge. The paper recommends, inter alia, that an awareness campaign about the long-term harmful effects of herbicides be mounted countrywide and internationally to protect illiterate smallholder farmers from herbicide toxicity.

Journal of Development and Communication Studies, 2018

Based principally on verbal data collected through interviews with journalists, journalism educat... more Based principally on verbal data collected through interviews with journalists, journalism educationists, journalist trainers, and curriculum analysis, this study notes some progress made in the field of Malawian journalism since independence. However, it argues that despite the welcome increase in the number of journalism and communication qualifications offered by public and private journalism training colleges in Malawi, the quality of the output is still lackluster. This is overwhelmingly because practical skills courses are taught inadequately, haphazardly and theoretically due, partly, to inadequate human and material resources and lack of a national policy to guide the formation of journalists. It recommends that to improve the quality and relevance of journalistic output, Malawi should draft and publish a journalism education and training policy to guide all journalism training colleges. It also recommends that training colleges should partner with the industry, multilateral organizations with interest in communication and media development, government departments and NGOs not only for industrial attachment but also for these to sponsor communication and journalism training programmes. Partner institutions should consider procuring training materials and assets for the training institutions. The study further recommends that partner institutions need to consider sponsoring academic staff for higher education in journalism and media studies.

Media and Agriculture in Africa: A Case Study of Agriculture Radio Programming in Malawi

mmunication approaches associated with the modernization development paradigm, its influence in m... more mmunication approaches associated with the modernization development paradigm, its influence in making Malawian smallholder farmers adopt radio-mediated innovations and technologies seems to be minimal and ought to be reconsidered for more effective communication for development models. The study used mostly qualitative methodology, with focus group discussions, key informant interviews, and a semi-structured questionnaire to gather verbal and statistical data from the primary beneficiaries in order data to understand why three mass media interventions in Malawi had similar effects when only one of them was strictly participatory. It found, inter alia, that in two sites food security was the overriding factor that influenced the community members to adopt radio messages while in the third the participants were mostly driven by the desire to earn money, essentially because the area is food-secure. Thus, participation in radio production was found not to have any significant role in the acceptance and adoption of radio-mediated innovations by the farming communities. Based on the above findings, the study recommends a) an integrated communication for development (IC4D) model that combines top-down information dissemination techniques and participatory communication approaches since the two reinforce more than they oppose each other, and b) the formation of a Communication for Development (C4D) pool fund in Malawi to finance C4D activities. The C4D pool fund is theorised to be resourced by the Malawi government departments, local farmers ‘organisations, international NGOs, and UN bodies such as UNICEF, WHO, and the FAO.

This study assessed the impact of Information, Education, Communication and Marketing (IECM) stra... more This study assessed the impact of Information, Education, Communication and Marketing (IECM) strategy by Malawi's Technical, Entrepreneurial and Vocational Education and Training Authority (TEVETA) on potential clients' awareness of the organisation's existence understanding of policies on and HIV/AIDS and Gender, and their perception of the importance of TEVET activities in Malawi. A structured questionnaire was deployed to gather data from a sample of 585 interviewees recruited using a two step sampling design. The findings suggest that the IECM activities were not successful in creating awareness of TEVETA Malawi's presence and TEVET amongst urban, peri-urban and rural Malawians. Further, the study found that potential client knowledge of what TEVETA does and its policies relating to gender and HIV/AIDS inclusiveness was limited. For TEVET to become popular and help in driving national economic growth, the study recommends that TEVETA Malawi should espouse a targeted integrated public communication strategy comprising use of multiple communication channels, strategic placement IECM materials and use of multiple languages.

The Worlds of Journalism Study was one of the most comprehensive surveys of the culture and pract... more The Worlds of Journalism Study was one of the most comprehensive surveys of the culture and practice of journalism in Malawi since 2010, when the Journalists Union of Malawi (JUMA) did a survey of journalists' conditions of service. To a certain extent, the two studies complement each other.

Development journalism remains an important concept in the journalism studies literature, but it ... more Development journalism remains an important concept in the journalism studies literature, but it has, at the same time, suffered from a lack of empirical research. Drawing on a survey of 2598 journalists from eight South Asian, Southeast Asian, and sub-Saharan African countries, which was conducted as part of the Worlds of Journalism Study, this study assesses the importance journalists ascribe to three key development journalism roles—social intervention, national development, and educating people. It also compares these perceptions across the countries, between government- and privately owned news media in these countries, and between these countries and 19 Worlds of Journalism Study countries in Western Europe and North America, which profess to adhere to an objective and democratic press function. Findings suggest that journalists from the eight countries, across government- and privately owned media, considered development journalism important, and detached, adversarial journalism as less important. Their rating of the latter roles differed considerably from those of journalists from the 19 comparison countries. Results suggest that journalists were more likely socialized into their roles rather than being forced into the same by the heavy hand of government.

KEYWORDS: development journalism, national development, social change, South and Southeast Asia, sub-Saharan Africa, Worlds of Journalism Study

This paper argues that despite the recent rise in the use of radio, television, and social media ... more This paper argues that despite the recent rise in the use of radio, television, and social media in advancing
sustainable social development in Malawi, folk media, such as riddles, fables, folktales, and dance, can be harnessed
to enhance radio, TV and social media production to promote development, communicate hard-to-deliver messages,
and catalyze social and political change. Through a structural and characterization analysis of published and orally
performed Malawi Tonga folktales, the paper notes that Malawi Tonga folktales have a unique narrative structure,
and subtle characterization that can be adopted and adapted for effective social moralization without naming and
shaming anyone.

Keywords: Folk media, Folktale, Dramatic intensity, Development, Narrative sequence, Nthanu, Oramedia

This paper is a critical review of the role and performance of the media in the 2004 Malawi Parli... more This paper is a critical review of the role and performance of the media in the 2004 Malawi Parliamentary and Presidential Elections. The paper argues that, although not perfect, the professional and legal environment in Malawi is conducive enough for the media to develop and work professionally. It notes that, although the print media sector has experienced a downward development trend since 1994, the broadcasting sector has expanded and media-related training has flourished since 1994.
Against this background, the paper goes on to argue that the dismal performance of the media in general, and public broadcasters, MBC and TVM in particular, was the result of a lack of attitude change and political partisanship amongst media managers, and a lack of political will amongst the politicians themselves. Politicians seem to be interested in media professionalism only during elections.
The paper makes several recommendations to Malawian journalists to improve their performance.

What Makes Radio Listening Clubs as a Participatory Communication for Development Platform Work? ... more What Makes Radio Listening Clubs as a Participatory Communication for Development Platform Work? A Case Study of Monkey Bay, Malawi

This case study used qualitative ethnographic research methods, notably focus group discussions, Most Significant Change (MSC) narratives, and key informant interviews, to investigate drivers and the impact of Radio Listening Clubs (RLCs) as a participatory communication platform for development in Malawi. It concludes that personal commitment and innovativeness of members are the key drivers of RLC success. Radio Listening Clubs whose members are active, innovative and committed are more impactful than those clubs whose members are passive and uncommitted to the objectives of the RLC. Since emerging evidence indicates that the RLC platform is an effective development and critical empowerment tool, the study recommends that radio-based communication for development interventions should be accompanied by some form of RLC or community conversation platform to ensure fruitful exchanges among duty bearers, community members, and the media. Radio Listening Club establishment should be preceded by a community readiness assessment to embrace the tool to avoid resource wastage.

Malawi Oilseeds Sector Transformation (MOST) programme commissioned a study to assess and documen... more Malawi Oilseeds Sector Transformation (MOST) programme commissioned a study to assess and document electronic media based agronomic support services to smallholder farmers in Malawi in Mid 2014. MOST strategic goal is to reduce poverty
through facilitating changes in the 4 Oil seeds value chains of Cotton, Groundnut, Soybean and Sunflower. However MOST and sector stakeholders identified poor access to farming and market information by smallholder producers as one of the key
constraints in the sector exacerbated by the weak and inefficient public extension system. In order to overcome such a constraint, MOST is exploring the use of alternative means of delivering extension such as use of electronic media platforms.
The electronic media services study will inform the design and use of the electronic media services by MOST and its partners across the country and specifically in the 18 districts where the 4 value chains are mostly grown. The study has therefore analysed
the current and prospective electronic media based systems that could improve smallholder farmers’ access to and use of farming information with potential for scalable delivery by stakeholders.The study was qualitative in nature focusing on the supply side of the use of electronic media. 30 institutions in private, public and civil society were interviewed as Key Informants (KI). Secondary data from other studies and institutions especially Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA) was also used to extrapolate, validate and compliment the information from the KIs.

Abstract This ethnographic study used focus group discussions to investigate and gather ideograp... more Abstract

This ethnographic study used focus group discussions to investigate and gather ideographical information about
why statistics from the Nankumba region of Mangochi in Malawi, where, from 2008 to 2010, Farm Radio
International implemented the African Farm Radio Research Initiative (AFRRI) - a meticulously and almost
flawlessly planned hybrid maize variety promotion radio campaign - consistently showed that farmers preferred
local to the promoted hybrid maize varieties before, during, and after the participatory community radio
campaigns. The study found that in determining which maize varieties to opt for, farmers consider not only
volume of yield per unit area but also taste, smell, flour extraction rate, and storability of the maize. The study
further observes that preference of local maize varieties over hybrid is not restricted to rural farmers. Thus, farmer
exposure to and participation in radio campaigns may increase awareness and knowledge as did the AFRRI
campaign, but may not necessarily lead the farmers and consumers into adopting new maize varieties, technologies
or innovations.

Key words: radio campaign, participation, radio production, adoption, innovation, hybrid maize, Malawi

Malawi National Communication for Development Conference 2018 Summary Report, 2018

Malawi Presidential Election Results Audit, 2019

The Auditing firm, BDO, engaged by the Malawi's electoral commission to ascertain the correctness... more The Auditing firm, BDO, engaged by the Malawi's electoral commission to ascertain the correctness of the 2019 election results being transmitted to the National Tally Centre before announcement, observed the following anomalies, among others:
1. Election forms were not all signed by POs and monitors.
2. A number of Form 66 were not clear.
3. A Significant number of Form 66 were over scribbled, as a result, most of Form 66 became a mess and therefore needed to be replaced by duplicate forms, manually prepared forms, which were completed at the constituency tally centres. Some of the forms were excessively tippexed by POs who used tippex to do their corrections. Auditors made sure that all the figures were tallied and used the logbooks as the source documents to validate tippexed entries. In some instances, the replacement forms were signed off by all parties involved.

If farmers can access agriculture, weather, market, health information through ICTs or ICT hubs... more If farmers can access agriculture, weather, market, health information through ICTs or ICT hubs such as telecentres the cost of extension and advisory service delivery will go down.

More than twelve years after Malawi reverted to multiparty democracy and adopted a constitution t... more More than twelve years after Malawi reverted to multiparty democracy and adopted a constitution that incorporated a bill of rights, the local media are, contrary to popular expectations, slowly becoming a tool for suppression of local content and local languages. This study is a content analysis of the use of local languages and local content in the Malawian major print and broadcast media. The study concludes that media pluralism has not been matched with plurality of ideas, languages and content. The result has been the thwarting of participation of the majority of Malawians in public debates that concern community and national development.

• Explains why different classes behaved they way they do. • Mass society refers to anyone format... more • Explains why different classes behaved they way they do. • Mass society refers to anyone formations that don't qualify as upper class (this class enjoys/consumes high culture-music such as Beethoven's; art such as Picasso's abstract art) • Mass society does not appreciate high culture; enjoys lower mass cultural productions (such as pop music, tabloid newspaper, sports like football, etc)