(MISA/IFEX) – The chairperson of MISA-Malawi, Molland Nkhata, has been forced, by ministerial directive, into early retirement from his position as Director of News and Current Affairs of the state-controlled Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC). Nkhata was informed by the MBC’s Director-General, Sam Gunde, in a letter dated 23 April 1998, that a “ministerial directive has […]
(MISA/IFEX) – The chairperson of MISA-Malawi, Molland Nkhata, has been
forced, by ministerial directive, into early retirement from his position as
Director of News and Current Affairs of the state-controlled Malawi
Broadcasting Corporation (MBC).
Nkhata was informed by the MBC’s Director-General, Sam Gunde, in a letter
dated 23 April 1998, that a “ministerial directive has been issued to retire
you in the public interest with effect from 13 March 1998.” Malawi’s
Minister of Information is Sam Mpasu.
In November 1997, Gunde demoted Nkhata three steps downward to the post of
editor-in-chief and further ordered him to resign from MISA, the Journalists
Association of Malawi (JAMA), the Malawi Institute of Journalism (MIJ) and
the Media Council of Malawi (MCM), or face instant dismissal. It is
believed that this action also took place as a consequence of a ministerial
directive.
According to MISA, Nkhata was demoted after he was accused of being the
source of a newspaper article which reported that Malawi’s President, Bakili
Muluzi, had lost his
voice and could not address a meeting of Commonwealth Heads of State in
Scotland. Muluzi apparently felt embarassed by the report. Nkhatha was
demoted despite his explanation that he had not confirmed the information to
the newspaper journalist concerned. He had simply stated that the MBC had
heard the same information, but had so far not received any reports
verifying the information from its official correspondent at the meeting.
Nkhata’s demotion sparked widespread protests by media freedom activists in
Malawi and led to his unconditional reinstatement earlier this year. He also
received payment of arrears of his full salary as the Director of News and
Current Affairs during the period of his demotion.
As the chairperson of MISA-Malawi, Nkhata led a campaign last year, joined
by about a dozen human rights NGOs, to reform the existing Malawi
Broadcasting Act. MISA-Malawi demanded an Act which would remove state
control and guarantee the editorial independence of the MBC as a public
service broadcaster. The government has drafted a new, comprehensive
Communications Bill, which is due for debate in Parliament next month.
According to representatives of MISA-Malawi, the forced early retirement of
Nkhata from the MBC as a sign that the government is “concerned about
Nkhata’s professional and unbiased handling of news on the state
broadcaster, particularly in the run-up to the country’s parliamentary and
presidential elections” which will take place in under 12 months.
Nkhata said the decision to retire him was better than a dismissal and that
he is still agile and able to accept any challenging job. He has promised
to work even harder to liberalise the airwaves and ensure that professionals
at the MBC are free to practise without the dictates of political powers.” I
will continue serving MISA-Malawi as Chairperson until removed by those who
elected me and I do not feel any remorse for what has happened. Instead, it
has injected me with vigour to discharge my media freedom obligations more
forcefully and freely”, Nkhata said in an interview with MISA-Malawi.
Recommended Action
Send appeals to authorities:
Malawi, particularly those at the Malawi Broadcasting Corporation, can do
their work freely and independently of government interference in editorial
matters
editorial matters at the MBC, as evidenced by the forced early retirement of
Molland Nkhata, is in direct contrast to the envisaged new Communications
Bill, which guarantees the editorial independence of the MBC
principles of the Windhoek Declaration on the Promotion of a Free and
Pluralistic African Press, of which the Malawi government is a signatory
Appeals To
His Excellency President Bakili Muluzi
Office of the President
Sanjika Palace
Private Bag 300
Blantyre
MalawiHis Excellency President Bakili Muluzi
Office of the President
State House
P.O. Box 40
Zomba
Malawi
Tel: +265 621 855 / 634 320 / 634 566
Fax: +265 635 644 / 634 681
Please copy appeals to the source if possible.
