Bottomani spoke on Monday when he visited Zodiak offices in Lilongwe.

This was the first visit by the minister since his appointment; hence, he sought to appreciate successes and challenges that the media house is facing and how they can be resolved.

Botomani said he was satisfied by how Zodiak as A media house is informing the citizenry without bias.

“As government, we regard media houses as partners because they are also helping in the social economic development of the country, so it is needful as ministers to visit these establishments so that we can hear from them,” Bottomani said.

Zodiak Managing Director, Gospel Kazako, said the company would continue on its path of truth as the vehicle to serving the people of Malawi without bias in its work.

However, Kazako expressed concern that that such ministerial visits have not yielded anything in the past, as concerns raised by media houses are still outstanding.

“When ministers do come here, they do ask for our problems, ask for our challenges, and they do absolutely nothing, they go back and do nothing,” Kazako said, adding that this is frustrating.

He was quick to point out that, as media houses, they are not looking for money from the government but rather good policy direction that can in the end enhance media freedom and independence.

“We have had may be four to five ministers of information visiting us over the years, but I can assure you that not even one problem has been sorted, let alone not even getting a feedback. I hope that will not be diluting the importance of such visits,” Kazako said.

In his response to the concern, Bottomani said he was going to check on the issues that were raised before and see how best to deal with them.

Among the concerns raised by the Zodiak Managing Director included high taxes on importation of broadcasting equipment and what he overregulation of the media by government agencies.