Govt yet to act on Comesa journalist incident during UTM presidential nominations
Government is yet to question and investigate alleged UTM Party security personnel who are said to have assaulted a journalist George Banda at Comesa Hall on Wednesday during the presentation of nomination papers by Vice President and UTM torchbearer Saulos Chilima.
Chilima personally condemned the incident on the spot when it was brought to his attention and called on police to investigate and prosecute the offenders.
“We regret the unfortunate incident which has been brought to my attention and apologize to the journalist and all the journalists in the country. I will be writing MISA Malawi on the same. I would like to ask the police to investigate this and prosecute everyone involved in this shameful incident, ” Chilima told Zodiak radio when asked about the incident soon after presenting his nomination papers.
However, instead of investigating the issue, government through Minister of Information Henry Mussa issued a press statement on Thursday condemning UTM party on the incident.
Government said its findings indicate that Banda was assaulted for being suspected to be a member of the ruling DPP.
However, the journalist, George Banda is an accredited stringer hired by the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC).
The government press release does not state the progress made by the police in investigating the case as suggested by Chilima.
A social and political commentator faulted government for ‘spending time writing the long winded statement instead of investigating the matter’.
“Instead of investigating this issue as rightly observed by the Vice President Saulos Chilima, government is busy writing the press release which is aimed at scoring cheap political points.”
“We are all against political violence whether is being perpetrated by DPP or UTM or UDF or any political party, but here is a situation where the leader of the party which is alleged to have committed the crime is open enough to condemn it on the spot and ask authorities to investigate and prosecute those involved and all you do is release a statement instead of investigating the incident, that is some shallow thinking, ” posted one human rights activist on social media.
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Let the police investigate period
You people simukuziwa ndale, just shut up. By associating UTM party with the beating of a journalist is a political gain and bonus to DPP. Voter will start thinking like, if UTM have started beating people now, wat more akalowa m’boma.
No need of govt/police involvement, assaulters were of utm, they should do it alone and bring the findings to police, then the police Will take the final action
Pamene wa DPP wamenya munthu, amabungwe amalowelerapo pompo pompo, azipani zosutsa amayankhulapo nthawi yomweyo, ndipo SKC amakwera pa nsanja kudzudzula boma kuti ndilankhanza………..tsopano apa wa UTM wamenya mtolankhani, kodi UTM leader wangozuzulapo bwanji sananenepo kuti UTM yake ndiya nkhanza? Bwanji a zipani zotsutsa (PP, MCP etc) komanso a Human rights sakukambapo chilichonse???
Simukulikonda dziko lanu
Here is how you differentiate a good leader from a bad one. A good leader condemns violence regardless of the perpetrators. He does not disassociates his followers from the violence they commit. He condemns them there and then and encourages the police as law enforcers to investigate it. For a bad leader condemning his followers for wrong doing is unheard of. His followers justifies the violence as a way of protecting adadi. They are untouchable. The leader himself is pleased with the violence that he does not condemn his followers until people start questioning his integrity, leadership skills and some… Read more »
The police should investigate and prosecute those involved. The message is clear ndiye mulowetseso ndale apa kuti journalist amaoneka ngati wa DPP. Kkkkkkk inu wanu ndi umbava inu soon akutengeraniso ku court
Dont full Mwians the UTM leader condemned abd stated that they will investigate the incidence further.You want the govt ikalowelelapo kwambiri you want to dent mbiti ya DPP.Iwowo a UTM they shud communicate tge findings then tell what action they have taken whether he shud apologise why double investigation when UTM said they will look into the matter.
You didnt hear cleary from Chilima, he said police should investigate and prosecute those involved and I will aprogise to MISA thats all.
when did UTM became law enforcers? police are paid to investigate criminal cases like this and UTM can not investigate itself in this matter
DPP is surely full of dull madeya, imagine Dausi and Mchacha are ministers.
Hahahahaha DPP is used to beating people so they do not see the neeed to investigate. Rest people question their skeleton
selective justice??? how about the other incidences ? what has the government done?
You think kumenya mtolankhani ndi zocheza eti? Munya muona inu a manganya drama group
kkkkkkk mtolankhani nde munthu ena amvulidwa ku mangochi aja agalu?????