Minister warns against enacting Information Bill

Foul-mouthed Information Minister, Patricia Kaliati has warned Malawi media fraternity to forget government support in passing the access to information bill into law.

Kaliati made the disclosure when she addressed a news conference at Centre Office of Information in Lilongwe.

Her remarks came after she took bashing of online private newspaper Nyasa Times which exposed Malawi government for sending a delegation to Angola to look at ways of helping Zimbabwe’s President Robert Mugabe clear the weapons aboard the beleaguered Chinese ship that docked in Luanda, Angola.

The Malawi team which spent six days in Angola comprised of Clement Kapalamula - Head of Secret Intelligence Services (SIS), George Masinga - Acting Director of Foreign Relations (Intelligence) and a Mr Matanga - Technical Engineer (Intelligence).

"Government would like to categorically refute the article posted on Nyasa Times," said Kaliati.

The Minister warned against passing the information bill.

"If NAMISA [National Media Institute of Southern Africa] was here I would have even told them to forget about the Access to Information bill," said highly charged Kaliati, "You want to be writing such trash?"

Centre for Human Rights and Rehabilitation (CHRR) on World Press Freedom Day appealed to the legislative body to hasten the passing of the access to information bill into law.

"It is particularly important for the National Assembly to pass the bill now since we are edging towards the general elections next year when the citizenry will need to be well informed on what is happening around them for them to make informed decisions during the forthcoming election," Undule Mwakasungula, CHRR gaffer said.

"The absence of freedom of information law is worrying gap in the edifice of fundamental rights and freedoms," Mwakasungula added.

The Information Minister also lashed at Malawi Human Rights Commission for writing the government to query on the exposure by Nyasa Times.

Speaking in her dialect Chichewa, Kaliati said the Commission should have treated the story with a pinch of salt.

"Nawonoso a Human Rights Commission akutilembera kalata kuti akufuna government position nkhani zake zimenezi za anthu ozungulira mutu atasuta chamba ndikukhala pa computer kumalemba zopusa ngati izi? Izi zachiwerewere, zauhule why did you not find out first before writing us?" charged Kaliati.

The Minister then alleged that former president Dr Bakili Muluzi and his UDF party were behind the online publication as a stepping stone to win back power next year.

"Government is aware of some failed politicians like Dr Bakili Muluzi who are using the Nyasa Times so that they confuse Malawians and get back to Government. But let me tell them they will not succeed, that I can assure you," said Kaliati, accompanied by head of government security intelligence body, Clement Kapalamula.

"Let me tell the owner of Nyasa Times Mr Msowoya who is also a Malawian and those who slot information on Nyasa Times to be patriotic, we know you change the names but why change and not write your real names that I am Patricia Kaliati if you know what you are writing is the truth?

"We know some of them are from Joy Radio but they do change their names, why change that's silly! We know them by name, face, where they are working and where they stay," said the Minister.

Nyasa Times Managing Director Edgar Msowoya and Special Projects Editor Thom Chiumia said they are waiting for the audio recording of the news conference to reach them in UK where they are and will give a reaction by weekend.

However, the two pointed that they stick to their story saying their sources are credible, reliable and they managed to track Malawi group in Angola.

National Media Institute of Southern Africa (Namisa) said in a statement on May 3 that although murder remains an extremely rear threat for journalists in Malawi, practitioners have still faced some restrictions and hiccups in the course of their duties.

"They have been intimidated and harassed in the course of their duty or after publishing their stories," read a statement signed by Martins Naminga, chairperson of Namisa.