Malawi deports South Africa journalist to block her investigation assignment
Malawi police and Immigration officer on Monday detained a South African journalist Ntombizodwa Patience Makhoba at Chileka International Airport in Blantyre and subsequently deported her.
Makhoba, who works for City Press in South Africa, was in the country to undertake an assignment.
Nyasa Times understands that the journalist was coming to trace the roots of a prominent Malawian entrepreneur based in South Africa.
Immigration national spokesperson Joseph Chauwa said the South African journalist lacked “proper travel documents”.
But the Immigration later confiscated her passport.
Malawi and South Africa, both countries being in SADC, nationals freely visit each other’s country as long as they have a valid passport and return tickets.
Chauwa said the journalist was not accredited with the Ministry of Information to carry her assignment.
“She was supposed to apply to Ministry of Information for clearance and the ministry was then supposed to issue a clearance,” said Chauwa.
However, accreditation is not done at the point of entry and she was not given a chance to be heard.
Authorities also accused her of not having a host when she had a hotel booking at four-star Protea Hotel Ryalls by Marriot in Blantyre.
“She failed to whoever was hosting her so security officers took her to police for her safety,” said Chauwa.
The journalist was told on arrival that she was persona non gratta and would not be allowed to enter Malawi.
Makhoba was sent back to South Africa using the same Malawi Airlines fight that she boarded when coming to Malawi.
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The authorities know the real truth. As long as all procedures were followed in the detaining and deportation, it’s ok.
Now what will you do if South Africa decides to send all Malawians in South Africa packing? Including the fake Prophet???
Hahah my friend, South Africa depots hundreds of malawians. Check your facts lol
Another battle line drawn by dpp govt.
I for once will agree with government move, there are so many facts to back up this. Am neither the fun nor follower of Bushiri but the facts is City Press hate Bushiri and other African foreigners residing in South Africa who are doing better in terms of business or Academics. I studied right there in Cape Town but (1) i met so many xenophobic treatment by my fellow school mate but this is not being investigated by these Journalists (2) many Malawians are being butchered day and night in South African still not being invested by these media group… Read more »
Mwachita bwino kumubweza.Ma south africans ndi anthu oyipa koopsa ndipo si anthu owakondwelera ayi
she probably came to investigate bushiri
big up…
IF SHE DID NOT HAVE REQUIREMENTS SHE IS NOT ALLOWED RULES AND LAWS SAYS SO. ALL WHO HAVE PROBLEM CHECK ON ENTRY REQUIREMENTS IN MALAWI IF SHE HAS MISSED SOME THEN SHE IS NOT ALLOWED FULL STOP.
In 1993 we voted for freedom of speech, association, also of media. What I have seen here is that Malawi turning against media freedom. We rejected this oppressive system by the then ruler Kamuzu Banda. Some of the current leaders in the government were did not participate in that referendum. They were in diaspora scared of Kamuzu. Ife amene tinalimomwemuno we fought and removed the oppressive system. Malawians lets not allow this old system to resurface. Munthuyu sanalakwe kalikonse ayi. Thousands of desparate Malawians are entering South Africa everyday and the SA government doesn’t do what our government has done… Read more »
You don’t love your pipo iwe eti..
Is this a Banana Republic or what?? This is disgraceful behaviour even for a government as ridiculous as this DPP cabal. If the South African government decides to respond in kind, innocent Malawians will be the ones that suffer. This must be investigated so that the Immigration officers explain where the directive came from, and that fool must explain himself. This is a country governed by Laws, not a back garden belonging to DPP cadets. Who pocketed the money here? ACB, do your job please.
I don’t think you fully understand the subject matter. How many countries have you ever visited on this earth? Try to do what this so called journalist did in thr USA, the mother of democracy, and see what will befall you. Some of these comments are based on ignorance.
The USA is certainly not the ‘mother of democracy’. Know your history. The USA continues to be riddled with racism towards black Americans.
Come on Joyce, the only reason she was detained and deported is because someone has something to hide. Full stop. Don’t support criminals.