(MISA/IFEX) – According to MISA, the independent newspaper, “The Weekly Chronicle”, is threatened with closure following a court order to pay US$ 8,800.00 to the Reserve Bank of Malawi in defamatory costs. Rob Jamieson, the paper’s publisher, says he can hardly raise the amount as his publication subsists from hand to mouth, and the only […]
(MISA/IFEX) – According to MISA, the independent newspaper, “The Weekly
Chronicle”, is threatened with closure following a court order to pay US$
8,800.00 to the Reserve Bank of Malawi in defamatory costs. Rob Jamieson,
the paper’s publisher, says he can hardly raise the amount as his
publication subsists from hand to mouth, and the only alternative is to
close shop.
The Reserve Bank of Malawi sued “The Weekly Chronicle” for libel in
connection with story it published in its 9-14 July 1996 edition, which
alleged that US$4.5 million had been swindled at the Reserve Bank of Malawi.
The story further alleged that some staff members were involved in
fraudulent activities, such as obtaining loans to buy non-existent houses.
According to the judgment made in the High Court of Malawi, Lilongwe
Registry dated 27 June 1997, the Reserve Bank lone witness, General Manager
(Operations) John Kambalame, said he was shocked and disappointed by the
story, felt embarrassed and called his staff to establish the authenticity
of the article. He found no truth in it.
In his observation, Senior Deputy Registrar, R.R. Mzikamanda, said the
Reserve Bank of Malawi, being an important public institution, will
invariably attract comments regarding its operations. “It is vital that such
comments should not be based on falsehood or malice
aimed at tarnishing the bank’s image, reputation or standing.” Mzikamanda
said that there can be no doubt that the successful operations of the
Reserve Bank of Malawi depend very much on its integrity and good
reputation. He warned that reckless or careless publication of false
stories cannot be protected by constitutional provisions of freedom of
expression.
The plaintiff obtained judgment in default of defense on 28 January 1997.
The defendants, however, appealed for retrial to give their side of the
story but Deputy Registrar Bitiku Qoto dismissed the application with costs
and upheld the order to pay damages to the Reserve Bank.
MISA-Malawi Chairperson, Molland Nkhata has called this judgment “another
slap in the face of media freedom and democracy in Malawi.”
The Weekly Chronicle’s publisher, Rob Jamieson, said he would need urgent
financial support from sympathizers to settle this payment and keep the
paper on the market or it would fold.
