Newspaper manager and reporter charged with criminal libel for article critical of health minister
(MISA/IFEX) – The general manager of Blantyre Newspapers Limited (BNL), Jika Nkolokosa, and one of his reporters, Maxwell Ng’ambi, have been charged with criminal libel for writing negatively about Health Minister Hetherwick Ntaba. Both journalists pleaded not guilty before the Lilongwe Magistrate Court on 29 May 2006. According to the charge sheet, the journalists, “knowing […]
Journalists briefly detained for photographing vandalised plaque dedicated to Zimbabwean president
(MISA/IFEX) – On 24 May 2006, Malawi police briefly detained freelance journalist Isaac Masingati and Zimbabwean Associated Press journalist Tsvangirayi Makwazhi for taking pictures of a demolished plaque posted on a road named after Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe. Makwazhi was in Malawi to gather information on HIV & AIDS but took advantage of the trip […]
Editor re-assigned, warned about his performance, after asking politically “sensitive” question
(MISA/IFEX) – On 19 May 2006, a day after Information Minister Patricia Kaliati lambasted him in the presence of his junior staff and reporters from other media houses, the acting managing editor of the Malawi News Agency (MANA), Don Napuwa, was transferred to the Information Ministry headquarters. Kaliati told the media that Napuwa was transferred […]
Editor and journalists released on bail
(MISA/IFEX) – On 9 May 2006, the Lilongwe Magistrate Court granted bail to Robert Jamieson, owner of the “Chronicle” newspaper, and his two reporters, who were arrested on 8 May on charges of criminal libel. Jamieson was arrested alongside his editor Dickson Kashoti and reporter Arnold Mlelemba; all are accused of defaming Malawi’s Attorney General, […]
Editor, two reporters of newspaper arrested, charged with criminal libel
(MISA/IFEX) – On 8 May 2006, the editor and two reporters of “The Chronicle” weekly newspaper were arrested and charged with criminal libel, following an article published in the newspaper that alleged that the Attorney General, Ralph Kasambara, was involved in the sale of a stolen laptop computer. Police acted on a warrant of arrest […]
Government office alleges “mercenary” journalists are discrediting high officials for pay
(MISA/IFEX) – The Office of the President and Cabinet (OPC) has alleged that five print journalists have been hired to write articles to discredit President Bingu wa Mutharika and his cabinet. In a statement issued on 9 December 2005, OPC’s Director of Public Relations Mike Kamwendo alleged that three of the “mercenary” journalists work with […]
Opposition party taking state broadcaster to task for not airing press conference
(MISA/IFEX) – The main opposition party, the Malawi Congress Party (MCP), has threatened to take unspecified action against the state broadcaster, the Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC), for refusing to air a press conference the party held last month. The party paid approximately US$341 for recording and airtime but the broadcaster failed to air it. Party […]
Parliament rejects radio station’s offer to cover live debate
(MISA/IFEX) – Parliament has rejected an application by the newly launched Zodiak Radio station to cover live proceedings of the House. The national legislature has been sitting since October 11 2005. Zodiak Radio Managing Director Gospel Kazako told MISA Malawi that Parliament did not give any reason for its decision. “I am concerned because I […]
Radio station challenges law impeding media freedom
(MISA/IFEX) – On 20 September 2005, Capital Radio Malawi launched a test case which challenges one of the laws impeding media freedom in the country, the Protected Emblems and Names Act of 1967. The Act reads: “Any person who does any act or utters any words or publishes any writing calculated to or liable to […]
Journalists ordered to report to police in 14 days, presidential aide released unconditionally
(MISA/IFEX) – On 16 March 2005, the Malawi police unconditionally released a vice-presidential aide and granted bail to two prominent journalists who had been arrested the previous day. Mabvuto Banda, of “The Nation” newspaper, and Raphael Tenthani, of the BBC, were arrested after they wrote articles alleging that President Bingu wa Mutharika was not spending […]
Two journalists released on bail
(CPJ/IFEX) – The following is a CPJ press release: MALAWI: Two journalists released on bail New York, March 16, 2005 – BBC reporter Raphael Tenthani and Mabvuto Banda of the independent daily The Nation have been released on bail after being held overnight by police in the capital, Lilongwe. The two journalists were arrested yesterday […]
Two journalists arrested after writing about president’s fear of ghosts
(CPJ/IFEX) – The following is a CPJ press release: Two Malawian journalists arrested after writing about president’s fear of ghosts New York, March 15, 2005 – Two well-respected journalists were arrested today by police at their homes in the commercial capital of Blantyre, in southern Malawi, after reporting that the president feared ghosts may haunt […]
President refuses to allow two reporters and a camera operator to accompany him on state visit
(MISA/IFEX) – President Bingu wa Mutharika has refused to allow two reporters and a camera operator nominated by Television Malawi (TVM) and the Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) to accompany him on a state visit to the Republic of China (Taiwan). Mutharika, who left Malawi on 9 January 2005, allegedly turned down the names of TVM […]
Journalist attacked
(MISA/IFEX) – On 29 January 2005, “Daily Times” reporter Collins Mtika was beaten up by supporters of the Alliance for Democracy (AFORD), a party that is a member of the ruling coalition. Mtika told MISA-Malawi that he was attacked when he went to cover a press conference at AFORD leader Chakufwa Chihana’s house, in the […]
Photographer and journalist attacked
(MISA/IFEX) – On 7 October 2004, photographer Emmanuel Muwamba and journalist Pilirani Semu-Banda, of “The Nation” newspaper, escaped with tattered clothes after police attacked them as they covered industrial unrest at a tea estate in southern Malawi. Muwamba told MISA’s Malawi chapter, also known as the National Media Institute of Southern Africa (NAMISA), that he […]
Radio station reopened
(MISA/IFEX) – On 31 May 2004, the High Court in Blantyre ordered the police to reopen the Malawi Institute of Journalism’s (MIJ) 90.3 FM radio station, which was shut down on 23 May. The station was closed following an interview it broadcast with the opposition Mgwirizano Coalition’s spokesperson, Kholiwe Mkandawire, in which she threatened to […]