Articles by Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA)
Broadcasters concerned about licences
(MISA/IFEX) – South Africa’s National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) has expressed concern that the proposed Media Development and Diversity Agency would duplicate and even erode the mandate of the countryâs broadcasting regulator, reported “The Star” and the South African Press Association (SAPA) on 28 March 2001. In a submission to parliament’s communications committee, which is […]
Government information officer fears for his life
(MISA/IFEX) – Patrick Mphonda, a government district information officer in the Southern Lower Shire Valley district of Nsanje, fears for his life following a story he filed for the official Malawi News Agency (MANA). Mphonda’s article concerns Gwanda Chakuamba, the beleaguered leader of the main opposition group, the Malawi Congress Party (MCP). On Sunday 18 […]
Broadcasting regulations read in parliament for first time
(MISA/IFEX) – On 26 March 2001, the Broadcasting Services Bill was read for the first time in Parliament, “The Herald” reported. Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Patrick Chinamasa, who is also the leader of the house, apparently requested that the standing rules requiring the legal committee to look into bills for twenty-six days […]
Charges against three journalists dropped
(MISA/IFEX) – On Thursday 22 March 2001, President Bakili Muluzi ordered police to drop charges against three journalists accused of publishing “false news” in February, the South African Press Association (SAPA) reported on Friday 23 March. The report, which quoted the president’s aide, Willie Zingani, said the three reporters faced criminal charges of publishing “false […]
Reporter thrown out of right-wing party’s annual congress
(MISA/IFEX) – On Friday 23 March 2001, Tyrone Seale, a journalist for Afrikaans daily “Beeld”, was thrown out of the annual congress of the right-wing Herstigte National Party (HNP), held in Pretoria. Apparently, he was kicked out of the meeting because he was not white. Seale, assistant editor and political reporter for the Afrikaans newspaper, […]
Government slaps advertising ban on “The Namibian” newspaper
(MISA/IFEX) – The Namibian government has slapped an advertising boycott on “The Namibian” newspaper, claiming the newspaper is too critical of its policies, the paper reported on Friday 23 March 2001. According to the report, the decision to ban advertising was made at a cabinet meeting in December 2000 and some government departments have, as […]
Journalist assaulted, accused of racism
(MISA/IFEX) – A member of parliament has been accused of kicking a news reporter before telling him to “f*%k off back to Rehoboth” (a small town, about 78km south of the capital, Windhoek), “The Namibian” newspaper reported on 20 March 2001. According to the report, Alfred Stephanus Dax, a SWAPO (ruling party) member of the […]
Editor forced to testify in case against trade union leaders
(MISA/IFEX) – Editor Martin Dlamini of the “Times of Swaziland” was subpoenaed and has appeared before Senior Magistrate Sabelo Mngomezulu in Mbabane to testify in a case of six trade union leaders charged with contempt of court. The trade union officials are charged with going against an Industrial Court ruling that outlawed a two-day mass […]