Mutharika defers interface with Malawi media
Malawi President Peter Mutharika has called off the meeting with journalists which was scheduled for Friday at Sanjika Palace.
Ministry of Information said on Thursday that presidential interface which would have been “an opportunity for the media to interact with the President on various issues pertinent to the [media] industry and the country,” has been cancelled.
“I write to advise that the Presidential Interface with the President that was supposed to take place tomorrow, Friday, 14 November 2014 at Sanjika Palace has been postponed,” a statement from Ministry of Information emailed by Chikondi Chimala said.
The staterment said “new dates of the meeting will be communicated.”
President Mutharika faces economic challenges following donors withholding aid in reaction to a growing scandal over government graft known as Cashgate.
Malawi has relied heavily on foreign aid since independence and since 40 percent of country ’s budget comes from international donors.
Journalists including the Nyasa Times welcomed the presidential interface, as a good idea as long as the media practitioners don’t lose sight of their agenda that they expect from government to table Access to Information Bill in parliament and President to sign the ‘Table Mountain Declaration’ that urges governments in Africa to abolish “insult laws” and set free press high on the agenda.
The ‘Table Mountain Declaration’ was issued following a World Association of Newspapers and the World Editors Forum meeting in Cape Town, South Africa.
The media has been urging government to expedite the adoption of the Access to Information Bill and also protect journalists from harassment and arbitrary arrests.
The Malawi Cabinet in February approved an access to information policy, setting the stage for introduction of ATI legislation.
Recently Malawian Minister of Information and Civic Education Kondwani Nankhumwa said he will soon present an access to information bill.
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Wamva!!! You can’t use scarce resources feasting!!!! Be serious with your job otherwise demos will topple you soon!!!!!!!
Mr Zengeya if you say there are fake teacher arreas in the north you are a liar.I am an account assistant here in the south and I have done that business for so long,I have 50 of them and they have built me a house in Chileka road bought another one in Manja and I drive a nice car which is normally with my driver so stop the nonsense leave the tumukas alone tikuba ndife ku mmwera kwathu kuno
For the first time Malawi is debating federalism. Why? Because of DPP
Koma muli katundutu
Zonsenzi ndi achina Raphael Tenthani & Madalitso Mussa…Ma upper cut ake amene aja?
He has called off the meeting as he is not feeling well with the strike in all our courts.
You need to ask him on outcome of the civil service reform commission and when will govt audit District Education offices where there is rampant fake arrears for teachers more especially those in the north.
Or is DPP scheming to buy them out ?
vuto lanunso ndi limenelo
it was another case of wasting tax payers money. Let the President be man enough and hold a live press conference on radio and television like most democratic leaders do. not holding parties for journalists and bribe them with thirty grand,
Add the following question to the list: 1 Why does the president pursue tribalism & regionalism? 2 What his position on federalism? 3 Was DPP involved in cashgate between 2005 to 2012 & if so what steps has put in to avoid the returned cashgate money to be cashgated? Is he aware that some Malawians are inked with his alliance with the father & founder of cashgate Prof in Thiefty Bakili Muluzi?