Independent Complaints Commission (ICC) Public Relations Officer Happy Njalam’mano says his recognition as the 2026 Up-and-Coming PR Practitioner of the Year has challenged him to do more in taking the Commission’s mandate to the public.

Njalam’mano says the award is not only recognition of his work but also a reminder of the responsibility he carries to ensure that people understand the role of the relatively new oversight institution and know where to turn when they have complaints against the police.

“This award is both a recognition and a reminder of the responsibility I have as the Public Relations Officer for the Independent Complaints Commission. It reminds me of the duty I have to bring the Commission closer to the people,” Njalam’mano said.

He says his role is to bridge the gap between the ICC and the public by ensuring that people are aware of the Commission, understand its mandate and know the mechanisms available for lodging complaints against the police.

“I see myself as a bridge connecting the people with the Commission so that, ultimately, they can access and receive the services they deserve,” he said.

Njalam’mano has attributed his success to the strong relationship he has developed with the media, which he says has played a critical role in helping the ICC reach communities despite financial challenges affecting the institution.

“For people to know the existence and mandate of the Commission, I need the support of the media to spread that message. The media plays a critical role in ensuring that people know that the Commission exists,” he said.

He has also credited ICC staff and various departments, including the civic education and legal departments, for supporting his work by providing information and other resources needed to communicate the Commission’s activities to the public.

Njalam’mano has further dedicated the award to ICC Commissioner Christopher Tukula, whom he credits for creating an environment that allows new ideas to flourish.

“I thank my Commissioner Christopher Tukula for giving me the opportunity to exercise my role without being rigid. He is a flexible person who provides fertile ground for ideas to flourish,” he said.

However, Njalam’mano says the recognition has also created a new challenge for him and the ICC, arguing that winning an award should not mark the end of efforts to improve public engagement.

“Yes, we have won this award, but the question now is: what next?” he said.

He says the ICC needs to increase its visibility, particularly through digital platforms, citing the Commission’s podcast as one of the channels that requires more promotion to reach a wider audience.

Njalam’mano says the ultimate objective is not simply to make people aware of the ICC, but to ensure they understand and use its complaints-handling mechanisms to access the services available to them.

“We need to go an extra mile to ensure that more people know about the ICC. But it is not enough for people simply to know about the Commission. They should also understand and use its complaints-handling mechanisms,” he said.

Meanwhile, Judiciary Chief Corporate Affairs and Public Relations Officer Ruth Mputeni, who was named the 2026 Overall PR Practitioner of the Year and Public Sector PR Practitioner of the Year, says her recognition reflects the collective efforts within the Judiciary to make the institution more accessible to the public.

“This is a great honour for me, but also a proud moment for the entire Judiciary, because this recognition reflects the collective efforts we have made to bring the Judiciary closer to the people,” Mputeni said.

Mputeni says she found a strong commitment to opening up the Judiciary when she joined the institution and has sought to build on that foundation through meaningful public engagement.

She says the support of the Chief Justice and the wider Judiciary has been instrumental in helping her bridge the gap between the courts and the public.

Mputeni says the award has also motivated her to raise the standard of public communication by promoting a Judiciary that is open, transparent and people-centred.

“This recognition is therefore not only an honour, but also a catalyst to raise the bar even higher,” she said.

She says her focus will remain on simplifying and localising complex court information so that Malawians can understand the work of the courts, know their rights and understand how and where to access justice.

The two were among practitioners and institutions honoured at the Public Relations Society of Malawi Excellence Awards held in Salima as part of the organisation’s 10th anniversary celebrations.

Other winners included National Bank of Malawi, which received the Excellence in Corporate Communication award, while First Capital Bank’s Memory Mwathengere was named Corporate PR Practitioner of the Year.

The Malawi Law Commission won Excellence in Public Sector Communication, COMSIP received Excellence in Development Communication, while the Malawi Electoral Commission was recognised for Excellence in Crisis Communication.

Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet Justin Saidi was also honoured as an Honorary Fellow of PRSM.