(MISA/IFEX) – President Bingu wa Mutharika has refused to allow two reporters and a camera operator nominated by Television Malawi (TVM) and the Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) to accompany him on a state visit to the Republic of China (Taiwan). Mutharika, who left Malawi on 9 January 2005, allegedly turned down the names of TVM […]
(MISA/IFEX) – President Bingu wa Mutharika has refused to allow two reporters and a camera operator nominated by Television Malawi (TVM) and the Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) to accompany him on a state visit to the Republic of China (Taiwan).
Mutharika, who left Malawi on 9 January 2005, allegedly turned down the names of TVM reporter Jolly Ntaba, camera operator Harry Chuma and MBC chief reporter Moffat Kondowe.
While MBC failed to replace Kondowe, TVM sent producer Waliko Makhala and camera operator Bwanali Makote at the president’s request. Makhala and Makote previously accompanied Mutharika as “personal guests” when he attended a landmine conference in Kenya in November 2004.
MISA-Malawi (also known as Namisa) condemned the state interference in the media outlets’ editorial independence, describing it as “undemocratic.” The organisation urged Information Minister Ken Lipenga to advise the president on the impact of such interference.
“As a well-respected and refined veteran journalist, Honourable Lipenga should articulate the effects of exploiting the media, especially [when] using people [who have the] wrong speciality,” Namisa said in a statement.
The organisation suggested that the two media outlets select a number of reporters, based on their skills, to cover the president’s activities on a rotational basis.
