Malawi: Printing of newspaper halted, printing company staff attacked

ALERT - MALAWI

25 February 2004

Printing of newspaper halted, printing company staff attacked

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

(MISA/IFEX) - On 29 January 2004, Thom Chiumia and Chikumbutso Mtumodzi, two
journalists who are also politicians, halted printing of the privately owned
"The Dispatch" newspaper and seized the printed copy and plates.

Chiumia is president of the New Dawn for Africa (NDA) political party and
Mtumodzi is the NDA's secretary-general. The NDA supports the ruling United
Democratic Front (UDF) party and is widely believed to be funded by UDF
supporters.

According to Lusungu Mhango, production manager of the Karora printing and
publishing company, Chiumia and Mtumodzi went to his printing press to print
their own newspaper, "The Informer". When they arrived, they became angry after
discovering that "The Dispatch" newspaper was being printed.

"They wielded a knife and threatened everyone around. Some of my staff members
sustained injuries," Mhango said. He said his company lost over K70,000 (approx.
US$650) as a result of Chiumia's and Mtumodzi's actions.

While denying his involvement in the incident, Chiumia said he wanted to teach
the printers a lesson regarding respect for the government. "I believe in media
freedom. I cannot fight 'The Dispatch'. But I will fight printers who have
hidden agendas and want to embarrass the government," he said.

He claimed that the printers sidelined his paper despite advance payment and
printed "The Dispatch" instead, which he said criticises the government.

"The Dispatch" managing director Martines Namingha said he was not surprised by
Chiumia's and Mtumodzi's actions and that they have always tried to interfere in
his operations.

"A few days ago they wrote in their paper that I am funded by National
Democratic Alliance President Brown Mpinganjira. They even quoted Republican
President Gwanda Chakuamba as saying that I am funded by Mpinganjira. I talked
to Chakuamba and he denied having talked to them," Namingha said.

BACKGROUND:
Chiumia and Mtumodzi have operated several newspapers, whose names have been
changed following defamation charges.

In 2003, they beat Mpinganjira to registration when they registered their party
as the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), a name that belonged to Mpinganjira's
pressure group, and copied all its symbols. The courts stopped them from using
the name but they kept the NDA acronym.

Their newspaper disparages anyone considered to oppose the UDF's stance. In
March 2002, Chiumia and Mtumodzi allegedly assaulted a Burundian football coach
who worked in Malawi, for what analysts said were political reasons (see IFEX
alert of 29 March 2002).

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 61 232 975, fax:
+264 61 248 016, 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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