(MISA/IFEX) – Rankin Nyekanyeka, editor of the “Daily Times” – one of only two daily newspapers in Malawi – has been demoted four steps down following his suspension over an editorial decision in August 2000. Nyekanyeka was suspended on 28 August for allegedly not leading with a story about President Bakili Muluzi opening a plastic […]
(MISA/IFEX) – Rankin Nyekanyeka, editor of the “Daily Times” – one of only two daily newspapers in Malawi – has been demoted four steps down following his suspension over an editorial decision in August 2000.
Nyekanyeka was suspended on 28 August for allegedly not leading with a story about President Bakili Muluzi opening a plastic factory. Nyekanyeka maintained that the decision to lead with another story was arrived at professionally. He was initially suspended for two weeks but the newspaper’s former group managing director, Walker Jiyani, extended the suspension without pay for another two weeks.
On 4 October, Nyekanyeka received a reinstatement letter, in which he was advised that he was being recalled to resume duties on the condition that he cease to hold any decision making position and accepted the position of sub-editor. Signed by B. Saiwala, a human resources assistant in Blantyre Print and Packaging, the reinstatement letter also advised Nyekanyeka that he would have to forfeit a twenty per cent increment on his salary effected in April.
Nyekanyeka told MISA-Malawi that he was seeking legal advice on the matter.
Background Information
Nyekanyeka was suspended on 28 August for allegedly “belittling” a story about President Muluzi. In the suspension letter, the editor-in-chief, Mike Kamwendo, took issue with the newspaper’s Friday 25 August edition lead story entitled “Malawi Police To Serve In Kosovo”. The previous day, President Muluzi had presided over the opening of a factory in Blantyre. In the letter, Kamwendo said Nyekanyeka should have used his judgement to know that the Muluzi story was more important than the Kosovo one. But Nyekanyeka said he still believed his choice was professional.
Nyekanyeka’s suspension came three months after the original board in charge of the newspaper, appointed by the opposition Malawi Congress Party (MCP), was fired to pave the way for a government appointed board.
Blantyre Newspaper Limited, publishers of the “Daily Times”, was part of the MCP establishment, but when former President Hastings Kamuzu Banda died in November 1997, the newspaper was put under a trust. Banda’s relatives sought a court order, saying his estate was not being properly distributed. The court ordered that the estate be put under an interim administrator until the case was settled. A new board had to be appointed to run the newspaper, effectively moving its editorial stance from the opposition to the government.
