Articles by Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA)
Journalist found guilty, gets demoted
On July 30, the Public Service Commission in Lesotho found guilty and demoted Mamonyane Matsa’ba, a journalist working for the state-run radio. MISA-Lesotho acting Chairperson, Bethuel Thai, reported on August 5, that the Commission found Matsa’ba guilty of “disobeying and disregarding” in November last year an order prohibiting journalists from broadcasting a recorded opposition statement. […]
Police raid home of “The Post” reporter Brian Malama; “The Post” reporter Samson Mujuda also subject to harassment
On 11 July 1996, six armed police officers raided and searched the house of “The Post” newspaper reporter Brian Malama in the town of Kitwe. Managing editor Bright Mwape said that “heavily armed police raided and searched Malama’s house at gun point but without a search warrant and [they] refused to identify themselves.” Mwape said […]
Parliament approves motion for a press council
Speaker of the Lesotho National Assembly John Kolane has said that Parliament approved in February 1996 a motion “to encourage the local media [to] establish a press council.” Kolane said that Parliament believes the motion will “ensure that newspapers in the country adhere to journalism ethics.” The National Assembly passed the motion on 16 February […]
Angry fans attack television crew, damage TV cameras
On 6 July 1996, about six thousand angry music fans attacked and injured three members of a television crew when South African pop music band Boom Shaka failed to turn up at a scheduled concert in the capital, Windhoek. Angry fans stole one and irreparably damaged two television cameras belonging to the Namibian Broadcasting Corporation […]
National broadcaster comes under bomb threat
**For background to “Times of Zambia” case, see IFEX alert dated 6 June 1996* HASH(0x9552250)
Prime Minister visits broadcasters; reportedly censors news
Source: MISA-Swaziland MISA-Swaziland reported that on 23 June 1996, Acting Prime Minister Dr. Sishayi Nxumalo, accompanied by Minister of Information Prince Khuzulwandle together with heavily armed police, went into state-run radio and television newsrooms to check through evening news items queued for broadcasting. Nxumalo and Khuzulwandle removed from the news line up items describing a […]
President Bakili Muluzi threatens to use sedition laws against opposition politicians who insult him
Malawi President Bakili Muluzi has warned opposition political parties that he would resort to sedition laws against politicians who insulted him. On 17 June 1996, the local media reported Muluzi accusing his opponents of using “bad language under the guise of democracy and free speech” to slander him and the ruling United Democratic Front party. […]
Journalists pressured to reveal sources
Four Zambian journalists have refused to name their sources in regard to a story which alleged that Legal Affairs Minister Remmy Mushota had attempted on 4 April 1996 to cash a Kwacha 210 million (US$ 166 000) government cheque. “The Post” managing editor Bright Mwape and senior journalist Chilombo Mwondela, as well as “Chronicle” newspaper […]