(MISA/IFEX) – On Sunday 24 March 2002, Malawi police arrested three reporters belonging to “The Sun” newspaper for assaulting and harming a football coach at a shopping mall in the country’s commercial capital, Blantyre. Police spokesman George Chikowi said in an interview that the three reporters, Chikumbutso Mtumodzi, Thom Chiumia and Ken Ndanga, pounced on […]
(MISA/IFEX) – On Sunday 24 March 2002, Malawi police arrested three reporters belonging to “The Sun” newspaper for assaulting and harming a football coach at a shopping mall in the country’s commercial capital, Blantyre.
Police spokesman George Chikowi said in an interview that the three reporters, Chikumbutso Mtumodzi, Thom Chiumia and Ken Ndanga, pounced on the Burundian national coach, Nsazurwimo Ramadhan, in the mall as he was shopping with his wife on the evening of Friday 22 March.
Chikowi said Ramadhan, who has coached Malawian clubs for over two years, was rescued by a Criminal Investigation Department (CID) policeman.
The three reporters, said Chikowi, attacked Ramadhan again as he was leaving the mall after the CID policeman had left. “They beat him up in front of his wife and threatened to kill him with a panga knife,” he said.
He said the police arrested the trio and their aide, Davie Chipembere, following a complaint by Ramadhan.
Chikowi said the reporters were out on bail and would appear before a court of law very soon.
The incident occurs at the same time as media institutions in Malawi such as Namisa (National Media Institute of Malawi) and the Media Council are engaging government in dialogue to check violations of media freedom mostly by political operatives.
Background Information
“The Sun” runs a vicious propaganda campaign for the ruling United Democratic Front (UDF) party. The newspaper attacks everyone deemed critical of the UDF and its stalwarts.
Ramadhan came to Malawi to coach Total Big Bullets Football Club but was fired under mysterious circumstances. State President Bakili Muluzi is a strong supporter of the club.
Ramadhan later picked up a job with MTL Wanderers Football Club but was sacked in similar circumstances. MTL’s supporters include the presidential affairs minister and UDF director general, Dumbo Lemani (patron) and presidential adviser Humphreys Mvula (chairman).
