Articles by Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA)
“Standard” journalists in constitutional challenge
(MISA/IFEX) – The editor of the “Standard” newspaper, Mark Chavunduka, and chief writer Ray Choto, have lodged an application with the Supreme Court challenging the validity of the Law and Order Maintenance Act (Loma) under which the two are being charged for allegedly causing “alarm and despondency.” **Updates IFEX alerts of 31 May, 11 May, […]
Systematic decline in respect for media in Angola
(MISA/IFEX) – The following is a MISA report on the state of the media in Angola: Dear friends and colleagues, Following is a chronology of events and incidents involving the media in Angola since January 1999. The trend suggests a systematic decline in respect for the media in Angola, particularly from the government, and over […]
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 […]
Parliamentary body wants journalists to reveal sources of information
(MISA/IFEX) – A Parliamentary Select Committee, probing allegations of insider trading on the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange and in the shares of Zimbabwe Holdings Limited (Finhold), has demanded that journalists who had written reports of its preliminary findings be forced to reveal their sources. On 9 June 1999, the committee refused to finalise its work until […]
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 […]
Newspaper cleared in massive libel suit
(MISA/IFEX) – On 17 June 1999, the leader of a Mozambican opposition party, Domingos Arouca from the Mozambique United Front (FUMO), lost a libel suit against the country’s Sunday paper “Domingo”. The Mozambican news agency, AIM, reports that the case had serious implications for press freedom since Arouca had demanded damages of no less than […]