malawi: Journalist, photographer assaulted

IFEX - News from the international freedom of expression community
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ALERT - MALAWI

24 October 2002

Journalist, photographer assaulted

SOURCE: Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA), Windhoek

(MISA/IFEX) - On 23 October 2002, Fidson Chisesele, a member of parliament
(MP) from the ruling United Democratic Front (UDF) party, assaulted Gedion
Munthali, a senior reporter from "The Nation" newspaper, and an unidentified
freelance photographer. The incident took place at the Parliament buildings.
Chisesele reportedly also dragged Munthali to House Leader Harry Thomson's
office.

Soon after the beating, Munthali told MISA's Malawi chapter that he had been
trying to discuss concerns raised by the MP's constituents. The constituents
had addressed a letter of appeal to the MP and his colleagues in which they
urged them to vote against an amendment to Malawi's constitution that would
allow President Bakili Muluzi to seek a third term in office. The letter,
which bore the signatures of 1,300 constituents, was also delivered to the
offices of "The Nation".

Munthali said he was asked by his colleagues at "The Nation" to seek
comments on the letter from Chisesele, another MP and Speaker Sam Mpasu.
Munthali said the speaker and the other MP responded, but Chisesele advised
him to meet with him later, during a break.

"He asked if I was Gedion and told me to follow him inside. Instead of
addressing the issue, he grabbed me by the neck and beat me up," Munthali
said, adding that a photographer who tried to capture the incident was also
assaulted.

Munthali said the MP stopped beating him when another MP and a cabinet
minister intervened, advising Chisesele to give his side of the story
instead of assaulting the journalist.

Munthali said Chisesele then dragged him to House Leader Thomson's office.
He said the MP told Thomson and the UDF's first vice-president, who was also
in the office, that Munthali was "slinging mud at [him] and the party."

"All this time, I was being dragged by the collar. The leader of the House
and the UDF first vice-president advised him not to beat me up, but to
respond to my questions," Munthali explained.

MISA's Malawi chapter has issued a statement condemning Chisesele's assault
on the media workers and asking House Leader Thomson and the UDF to
discipline their MP. Police are also investigating the matter.

BACKGROUND:
Malawi's Parliament has become dangerous ground for people deemed to be
anti-third term campaigners. On 16 October, unknown assailants ambushed an
opposition MP and pulled him from his car before brutally beating him,
within the precincts of Parliament. No arrests have been made.

Malawi's Parliament may soon vote on a proposed constitutional amendment
bill to allow President Muluzi to run for a third term. His current term
expires in 2004.

"The Nation" is Malawi's largest daily newspaper and is privately-owned.

For further information, contact Zoe Titus or Kaitira Kandjii, Regional
Information Coordinator, MISA, Street Address: 21 Johann Albrecht Street,
Mailing Address; Private Bag 13386 Windhoek, Namibia, tel: +264 61 232975,
fax: +264 61 248016, e-mail: [email protected] or [email protected],
Internet: http://www.misa.org/

The information contained in this alert is the sole responsibility of MISA.
In citing this material for broadcast or publication, please credit MISA.
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