NPL sweeps Misa awards, rated best

Media Institute of Southern Africa (Mi sa) Mal awi Chapter has named Nation Publications Limited (NPL) the Media House of the Year (Print) for the second year in a row. NPL, which publishesThe Nation, Weekend Nation, Nation on SundayandNation Online (www.mwnation.com),further underlined its dominance in the media industry during the awards on Sunday night by scooping 17 individual awards shared among its journalists. During the awards held at Sunbird Livingstonia International Conference Centre in Senga Bay, Salima as a climax for the World Press Freedom Day commemoration, NPL investigative journalist Bobby Kabango won the Investigative Journalist of the Year (Print) and was named the Misa Malawi 2026 Overall Winner.

Others, namely Lilongwe Assistant Bureau Chief Suzgo Chitete and reporter Kondwani Nyondo jointly won Best Business and Economics Journalists (Print) while senior business journalist Eric Mtemang’ombe won the same category for online and feature writer Allan Nyasulu secured the Best Human Rights Journalist of the Year (Print) and Best Women and Girls Journalist of the Year. NPL features edi tor James Chavula and sub-editor Kondwani Kamiyala jointly won Best Sexual and Reproductive Health Journalist of the Year (Print). On the other hand, Mzuzu Bureau Supervisor Joseph Mwale scooped Best Democracy and Good Governance Journalist of the Year (Print), Best Public Infrastructure Journalist of the Year, and the Centre for Social Accountability and Transparency (Csat) Journalist of the Year.

NPL sports journalist Joy Ndovi was named Best Sports Journalist of the Year staff writer Gomezgani Msiska took Best ICT Journalist of the Year (Print) and Arts and Entertainment Editor Edith Gondwe retained the Columnist of the Year forCandid Talkpublished inNation on Sunday. News ana l y st Ll oyd Chitsulo secured Best Access to Justice Journalist of the Year with photojournalist Jacob Nankhonya awarded Best Photojournalist of the Year. Further, NPL news analysts Andrew Viano and Grace Phiri jointly won the Nocma Best Petroleum Reporter of the Year Award (Print) for their story on indecision over fuel pricing headlined ‘Price of inaction’ while Millimo Chitsulo was named Best Arts Journalist of the Year (Online).

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Journalists from other media houses also claimed top honours with Times Group business journalist Taonga Sabola winning Best Youths and Adolescent Journalist of the Year (Online), Best Quality and Standards Journalist of the Year, Escom Anti-Vandalism Journalist of the Year (Print) and Best Nocma Journalist of the Year (Online). Times Radio was named Electronic Media House of the Year (Radio) while Zodiak Broadcasting Station Television won in the Television category. The Platform for Investigative Journalism (PIJ) was awarded Electronic Media House of the Year (Online) with Nyathepa Community Radio emerging tops in the community radio category.

In her keynote address, German Ambassador Ute König praised collaboration between German and Malawian journalists, particularly in capacity-building initiatives aimed at strengthening professional standards. In his remarks, Misa Malawi Chapter chairperson Golden Matonga said press freedom remains fragile and requires collective efforts to safeguard it.

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