“Assault of Journalists Must Stop,” MISA Malawi
Written by Innocent Nazombe on May 3, 2022
By Esther Banda
As MISA Malawi Chapter joins the world to commemorate the World Press Freedom Day (WPFD) which falls on 3rd May every year, Teresa Ndanga, Chairperson of the Malawi Chapter of Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA Malawi) has asked the President Dr. Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera to make sure that the impunity towards those who attack journalists must stop.
HE Dr. Chakwera and First Lady Madam Chakwera posing with leaders in the media fraternity
Ndagha expressed her disappointment on Tuesday morning at Kamuzu Palace where the representatives of Media Houses across the Nation had a breakfast meeting hosted by the President.
Teresa stated that it is sad that Journalists are continuously being attached physically and verbally but no one has been arrested or prosecuted.
“We have tried to enlighten the public including police officers, politicians and their supporters, sometimes ordinary Malawians, Inspector General of police, Secretaries General of political parties, on the importance of safeguarding media freedom but it is sad that nobody has been brought to book,”
“There is a spirit of impunity that continues to grow. We need arrests, we need prosecutions and people need to know that attacking a journalist is a crime,” she explained.
In his remarks, President Chakwera stated that freedom of the press and freedom of expression mean that from time to time someone will write or say things that will offend or embarrass, but that does not give the license to anyone to take the law into their hands.
“We can write, we can say or do say something to defend ourselves and if we feel like our name and reputation is being unjustly presented in the media, we can complain to regulatory bodies and courts that fully follow strict rules of justice but we must never seek to harm those who offend us,” he said.
Gospel Kazako Minister of Information and Digitalization stated that his ministry will make sure that media operates and functions independently and freely where information flows without restrictions and where people are empowered with critical information to make informed decisions to support various government development projects.
