State prosecutor withdraws charges against journalists
(MISA/IFEX) – The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Fahad Assani, has withdrawn a case against two journalists who were arrested in the middle of 1999 on charges of incitement and conduct likely to cause breach of peace. Since the charges were brought against the journalists – Harace Somanje and Mabvuto Banda, editor and deputy chief […]
Campaign to buy up copies of newspaper as they hit the streets
(MISA/IFEX) – Pramod Kalaria, the millionaire owner of the Lilongwe-based company Farmers World, has reportedly embarked on a campaign to buy up copies of “The Chronicle” weekly newspaper as they hit the streets. “The Chronicle” reports that as of Tuesday 18 July 2000, the paper, which hits the streets on Mondays, could not be found […]
Action taken against public broadcaster employee
(MISA/IFEX) – The board of the Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) has suspended the MBC’s central region manager, George Ngaunje, for three months without pay, for defiance of authority, reports “The Chronicle” newspaper. Ngaunje was reported to be “untouchable” and answerable only to President Bakili Muluzi. “The Chronicle” reports that because of his involvement in assisting […]
Journalist threatened, film confiscated
(MISA/IFEX) – On Thursday 6 July 2000, journalist Pushpa Jamieson was threatened by about five heavily armed Police Mobile Force (PMF) members while covering the aftermath of Malawi’s thirty-sixth independence anniversary at the Civil Service Stadium in Lilongwe. Jamieson had photographed the aftermath of clashes between riot police and hundreds of people who could not […]
Journalist threatened; minister threatens to sue newspapers
(MISA/IFEX) – On 26 June 2000, a group of people went to the house of “Chronicle” newspaper reporter Don Kulapani and demanded to see the journalist, who was not present at the time. The group of four people, who, according to the “Chronicle”, were believed to be members of the ruling United Democratic Front (UDF) […]
Media rights activist receives death threats
(ARTICLE 19/IFEX) – The following is a 23 May 2000 ARTICLE 19 press release: MALAWIAN MEDIA RIGHTS ACTIVIST RECEIVES DEATH THREATS OVER “MEDIA DISINFORMATION” ALLEGATIONS ARTICLE 19 today condemned the thinly-veiled death threats received recently by journalist and media rights activist Rob Jamieson. Numerous anonymous telephone callers have warned him of fatal consequences if he […]
Election monitoring project alleges media manipulation
**Updates IFEX alert of 6 March 2000** (MISA/IFEX) – The freedom of expression monitoring group Article 19 has unveiled significant evidence of media manipulation in Malawi’s 1999 presidential election campaign. In an election media monitoring project conducted between February and June of 1999, Article 19 alleged the existence of two “disinformation teams”, and found that […]
Former minister arrested for plot to bomb state radio
(MISA/IFEX) – On 1 March 2000, the former deputy minister of finance, Fred Nseula, and an accomplice, Aaron Sakala, were arrested following an alleged plot to bomb the state-owned radio station of the Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC). According to the PANA news agency, police spokesperson Oliver Soko said the two men were being charged with […]
1999 Election disinformation campaign revealed
(ARTICLE 19/IFEX) – The following is an ARTICLE 19 press release: MALAWI 1999 ELECTION DISINFORMATION CAMPAIGN REVEALED ARTICLE 19’s report on the 1999 Presidential and Parliamentary elections in Malawi highlights serious procedural shortcomings and heavy manipulation of media coverage by the government and ruling UDF. Most seriously, ARTICLE 19’s monitoring team stumbled across a disinformation […]
High Court suspends journalists’ case
(MISA/IFEX) – The Malawi High Court has ordered the suspension of criminal investigations in a case in which two journalists are being accused of inciting mutiny until the court rules on whether the case should proceed. **Updates IFEX alerts of 23 June and 22 June 1999** The two journalists, “Malawi News” editor Horace Somanje and […]
Alleged politically-motivated dismissals at public broadcaster; two photographers harassed
(MISA/IFEX) – At least four senior radio employers at the state-owned Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) have been fired, apparently for political reasons. In letters dated 23 June 1999, programme producers Geoffrey Msampha, Patrick Mphaka, Laston Rusk Nkwapatira and announcer Tom Chisuse were informed of their dismissal. No reasons were given. The letters were approved by […]
Journalists granted bail
(MISA/IFEX) – On 23 June 1999, Horace Somanje and Mabvuto Banda, two journalists from the “Malawi News” who were arrested on 21 June, were granted bail of 5,000 Kwacha each (just over US$100) in the Blantyre Magistrates court. The two were also bound to two sureties of 10,000 Kwacha (over US$200) each. They were instructed […]
Two journalists fail to appear in court
(MISA/IFEX) – Horace Somanje and Mabvuto Banda, two journalists from the “Malawi News” who were arrested on 21 June 1999, failed to appear in court on 22 June as expected. **Updates IFEX alert of 22 June 1999** The court reportedly did not convene after the state prosecutor indicated that the state was not ready to […]
Two journalists arrested over newspaper article
(MISA/IFEX) – On 21 June 1999, police in Blantyre arrested two journalists from the weekly “Malawi News” for allegedly inciting the Malawi Army to take over the country. The police arrested Horace Somanje, editor of the “Malawi News”, and reporter, Mabvuto Banda, early on 21 June for writing a story in the 19 June edition […]
Journalist assaulted
(MISA/IFEX) – “Daily Times” sports reporter Pilirani Kachinziri was assaulted on 22 May 1999 by a Telcom Wanderers Football team fan for allegedly writing negative stories about Wanderers official Jack Kamwendo and National team coach Jack Chamangwana. A report in the “Daily Times” said that Kachinziri was attacked at half-time during the Cosafa Castle Cup […]
Court issues injunction against paper
(MISA/IFEX) – A High Court injunction on 24 May 1999 restrained the pro-opposition Malawi Congress Party newspaper “National Agenda” from writing articles about a ruling party top official and her husband. Judge Maxon Mkandawire ruled that the paper should stop publishing articles about deputy campaign director for the ruling United Democratic Front (UDF) Mary Nyandovi-Kerr […]