(MISA/IFEX) – In what could pass as a face-saving move, President Bakili Muluzi has condemned as “unfortunate” the beating of Daniel Nyirenda, a photojournalist with “The Nation” newspaper, by youths belonging to Muluzi’s ruling United Democratic Front (UDF) party. The incident took place on 7 July 2003, at the opening of the UDF mini-convention in […]
(MISA/IFEX) – In what could pass as a face-saving move, President Bakili Muluzi has condemned as “unfortunate” the beating of Daniel Nyirenda, a photojournalist with “The Nation” newspaper, by youths belonging to Muluzi’s ruling United Democratic Front (UDF) party. The incident took place on 7 July 2003, at the opening of the UDF mini-convention in Blantyre. In the statement, President Muluzi avoided the issue, claiming that “opposition elements” assaulted the photojournalist. “The incident was very unfortunate and was definitely carried out by people who were assigned by enemies of the ruling party,” he said. Ironically, President Muluzi pledged to ensure the protection of journalists as the nation prepares for general elections in 2004.
Denis Mzembe, chairperson of MISA’s Malawi chapter (NAMISA), dismissed the president’s statement as unacceptable. “We do not see any commitment at all. There is no way Mr. Muluzi can say that these were not UDF members,” Mzembe said.
In an interview, UDF Deputy Publicity Secretary and Presidential Affairs Minister Ken Lipenga said Nyirenda was a victim of a “conspiracy philosophy” within the party. “We must admit that there are some people within the party that, for reasons best known to themselves, wanted to sabotage the convention,” said Lipenga, who is a former editor-in-chief of “The Nation”.
Alfred Ntonga, current editor-in-chief of “The Nation”, also dismissed President Muluzi’s statement, describing it as “business as usual.” “He has made similar statements before. In the past, he even ordered the inspector general [of police] to arrest such people, but acts of violence continue to happen,” said Ntonga.
