malawi: President non-committal on violence against journalist

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

10 July 2003

President non-committal on violence against journalist

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

**Updates IFEX alert of 8 July 2003**

(MISA/IFEX) - In what could pass as a face-saving move, President Bakili
Muluzi has condemned as "unfortunate" the beating of Daniel Nyirenda, a
photojournalist with "The Nation" newspaper, by youths belonging to Muluzi's
ruling United Democratic Front (UDF) party. The incident took place on 7
July 2003, at the opening of the UDF mini-convention in Blantyre. In the
statement, President Muluzi avoided the issue, claiming that "opposition
elements" assaulted the photojournalist. "The incident was very unfortunate
and was definitely carried out by people who were assigned by enemies of the
ruling party," he said. Ironically, President Muluzi pledged to ensure the
protection of journalists as the nation prepares for general elections in
2004.

Denis Mzembe, chairperson of MISA's Malawi chapter (NAMISA), dismissed the
president's statement as unacceptable. "We do not see any commitment at all.
There is no way Mr. Muluzi can say that these were not UDF members," Mzembe
said.

In an interview, UDF Deputy Publicity Secretary and Presidential Affairs
Minister Ken Lipenga said Nyirenda was a victim of a "conspiracy philosophy"
within the party. "We must admit that there are some people within the party
that, for reasons best known to themselves, wanted to sabotage the
convention," said Lipenga, who is a former editor-in-chief of "The Nation".

Alfred Ntonga, current editor-in-chief of "The Nation", also dismissed
President Muluzi's statement, describing it as "business as usual." "He has
made similar statements before. In the past, he even ordered the inspector
general [of police] to arrest such people, but acts of violence continue to
happen," said Ntonga.

BACKGROUND:
Nyirenda was beaten up by UDF youth wing members, who stole his two cameras
and a cell phone. UDF youths are on record as having torched vehicles
belonging to opposition leaders and harassed journalists and opposition
politicians, but no arrests have been made. Police are still investigating
cases that date back as far as five years.

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 update is the sole responsibility of
MISA. In citing this material for broadcast or publication, please credit
MISA.
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