Chakwera asked to act on MCP ministers threatening Malawi journalists

A media expert has asked President Lazarus Chakwera to act on Malawi Congress Party (MCP) Cabinet ministers who are threatening journalists in the country.

Munthali: Cut the Chaff author threatened over his column on ‘Vilemi Dazi; Chakwera here today, there tomorrow’

Dr. Anthony Gunde, a communications lecturer at Chancellor College said the threats are uncalled for.

This follows the condemnation of the threats by Media Institute of Southern Africa (Misa) Malawi Chapter .

In a statement released on January 1 meant to assess media freedom in the year 2020, media watchdog Chairperson Teresa Ndanga has in strongest terms condemned the attacks.

According to Ndanga, journalists must be left to exercise their rights freely without any interference as recently the country ope-rationalized the Access to Information Act.

Ndanga has since described as an insult the decision by State House press office to request for questions from journalists ahead of the weekly briefings which makes it a charade.

“Prior approval by State House of questions for the weekly press briefings is uncalled for. While this may have been done to allow for preparations by those who would respond, we have reports that questions considered ‘critical’ are removed, thus turning the weekly briefings into public relations functions and not a two-way platform of engagement between the media and the presidency” said Ndanga.

In his reaction, Gunde , a former journalist at Daily Times, has bemoaned an alleged act by some regime sympathizers of threatening journalists.

Those threatened include Nation Publications Limited managing editor and columnist  Ephraim Munthali and Suzgo Chitete.

Meanwhile, Gunde, has challenged government to come forward and condemn the reported malpractice.

“This exists everywhere, and there is really need for the administration to come out and say it does not recognize those involved to actually ensure that the media is freely operating” he said.

The latest incidents came when one of the daily papers also published a report in which the donor community reportedly threatened to stop funding the country’s projects.

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Alamu Pumani Mwakalamba

What is so special with journalists? Anyway, the days of threats are over. Even the chiefs cannot threaten his or her subjects. The law is paramount. Ministers are not above the law and are not even immune to criminal or civil proceedings.

nyarugwe
nyarugwe
3 years ago

What is so special about journalists. Some are professional, others are not. Not all of them have been threatened

Jah
Jah
3 years ago

Dpp gave you all the freedom

Mike Matebele
Mike Matebele
3 years ago

That is MCP for you. Who didn’t know what the party and it’s leadership is made of after the in-fights they had before getting into government when Chakwera singlehandedly got rid of Juliana Lunguzi, Jessie Kabwila, Gustav Kaliwo, Njobvuyalema etc? His getting into the clergy was nothing other than seeking for employment, nothing to do the reverendship. Are you people surprised to day to hear that of all the people in Central Region, Chakwera is grooming Mkaka to takeover the reigns in 2025 as he decides to do one term? Mkaka as an individual is not even fit to be… Read more »

Ulemu Banda
Ulemu Banda
3 years ago
Reply to  Mike Matebele

I think you need mental health counseling. This is beyond hatred.

J G Simpsons
J G Simpsons
3 years ago

MCP and Chakwera is Two Faced policy he wants Pre approval of Questions to be Asked at Weekly Briefing Meetings
Malawi we do Not have Freedom of Speech and Press

Limma
Limma
3 years ago

The one threatening and limiting the rights of journalists, ndi apongozi. How do you expect Chakwera to condemn this.

bentby smart
3 years ago

its high time these reporters have been trading media freedom for responsible reporting. most of them are illresponsible reporters. they are gossip peddlers and fake nuis peddlers. we needs laws that can counter attacks such reporters because we the readers also we have rights. we shouldn’t always the victim of their disservices and irresponsible reporting

Last edited 3 years ago by bentby smart
Mbanje Legalised
Mbanje Legalised
3 years ago
Reply to  bentby smart

Mwadziwa lero?

Jah
Jah
3 years ago
Reply to  bentby smart

Kuyambila liti mbuzi inu. Ngati something is not ok learn to accept osati chilichonse kukamwa yasaaaaa backing nonsense

Igbudu
3 years ago

Ehede! Ndiamenewa tu.

Brute
3 years ago

Don’t give reporters more freedom, most of them are unprofessional and corrupt, they have personal motives in their reporting, they report fake news to suit them, they promote fear and darkness, they don’t like good news, but very few are nice though!!

Me you
Me you
3 years ago
Reply to  Brute

You are very right. We saw how they succeeded in removing the DPP with their negative reporting.

Zathu Mwutho
Zathu Mwutho
3 years ago

party of darkness and death MCP is in power what you expect? next the goons will be feeding bodies to crocodiles. Why do we Malawians have such short and selective memories? Forgetting the history of MCP tactics from 1964 to 1994, we elected this party of darkness and ☠️ death into office, why?

Justice and Peace
Justice and Peace
3 years ago
Reply to  Zathu Mwutho

Let’s not prophesy those evils of old. You get what your mind dwells on

Kambewa ngozo
3 years ago
Reply to  Zathu Mwutho

Foseki
Don’t forget that all Malawians belonged to mcp because we were under one party system. Dausi who was senior as Myp.
We now have new leaders in Tonse Government.
We know that some of these people are being paid to write shity stuff.

Arnold
Arnold
3 years ago
Reply to  Zathu Mwutho

Abakha angatinso chani

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