Radical protestors attacks newspaper journalist: Matonga says ‘not hurt in any way’

A group of protesters called by a coalition of human rights groups over May’s vote that saw the re-election of President  Peter Mutharika assaulted Golden Matonga, a seasoned journalist  for the leading daily newspaper The Nation but he has downplayed the incident.

A report by Times Media accompanied by photograph shows Matonga escaping from the incident around Kamuzu Central Hospital.

The protestors reportedly confiscated Matonga’s wallet and his mobile phone.

But Matonga took to his Facebook page to confirm he is not on his phone but downplayed the attack that he is not hurt.

“Out of reach on my phone for a while  but working just fine. I am not hurt in any wat but thanks for your concerns,” wrote Matonga who is also an influential columnist and blogger.

Another reporter Gladys Nthenda was also reportedlt assaulted as radical protestors tore part of her pair of jeans.

They were rescued by Malawi Defence Soldiers.

The Human Rights Defender Coalition organised the fresh round of  protests to demand the resignation of Jane Ansah, the Malawi Electoral Commission chair, over irregularities. She was accused of using Tipp-Ex to change the vote tallies.

Mutharika won the first-past-the-post election with 38.5 per cent of the vote, compared with just over 35 per cent for Lazarus Chakwera, his closest challenger.  Chakwera, who has called the result “daylight robbery,” is challenging the results in the constitutional court with another opposition leader, UTM Party president  Saulos Chilima, to seek a rerun.

Ansah has defended the use of correctional fluid in the results tallies and denies wrongdoing.