(MISA/IFEX) – On 17 November 2000, Stephen Bwalya and Michael Bwalya, the ruling Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) district administrators for Lusaka and Kafue, respectively, accompanied by several other MMD members, went to the offices of the “Monitor” newspaper to find reporter Mervin Syafunko. The two officials and their supporters reportedly ignored a security guard […]
(MISA/IFEX) – On 17 November 2000, Stephen Bwalya and Michael Bwalya, the ruling Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) district administrators for Lusaka and Kafue, respectively, accompanied by several other MMD members, went to the offices of the “Monitor” newspaper to find reporter Mervin Syafunko.
The two officials and their supporters reportedly ignored a security guard outside the newspaper’s offices and went straight to the reception area, where they demanded to see Syafunko. However, the journalist was not in the office.
The two officials were apparently incensed by Syafunko’s expressed opinions in a column titled “The Muckraker”, where he questioned their suitability to hold public office. The two administrators and their supporters appeared angry when they arrived at the newspaper’s offices and were clearly intent on threatening the journalist.
Syafunko was later quoted in the “Monitor” as saying: “The fact that they are resorting to violence goes to show the calibre of your so-called leaders. If they think I am wrong by challenging their capabilities and qualifications to be in public office, let them prove it in a civilised manner.”
Syafunko told the Zambia Independent Media Association (ZIMA) that he reported the incident to Lusaka Central Police on 21 November but they refused to take it up and instead referred him to a police post near the “Monitor” offices in the Kamwala suburb, which would in turn refer the case to the Central Police.
In a press statement, ZIMA Chairman Masautso Phiri said: “The sentiments expressed by Syafunko in his column, ‘The Muckraker’, are his honestly held opinions which he is free to express, whether or not the two D.A.s agree with him. The fact that the D.A.s were accompanied by ruling MMD cadres suggests that they more than simply ‘wanted to see him.’ They probably intended to harm him physically. We would like to appeal to the two D.A.s to calmly reflect on Syafunko’s criticisms and maybe learn a lesson or two.”
