National News

Misa, Cedep condemn police officers’ action

 

Media Institute of Southern Africa (Misa) Malawi chapter has condemned a move by Malawi Police Service (MPS) officers to restrict a Nation Publications Limited (NPL) journalist from doing his work.

MPS officers on Wednesday prevented NPL photojournalist James Chimpweya from taking pictures of Minister of Agriculture and Water Development George Chaponda at Chileka International Airport.

Security personnel at the airport also prevented another journalist, Mercy Malikwa, from interviewing the minister.

Khanje: Government should
condemn the action

Commenting on the matter, Misa Malawi chairperson Thom Khanje said government needs to act on the issue, otherwise it will be taken as a clear crusade against the media.

“There is need for government to condemn the actions of the police or it will be taken as actions of the government towards barring the media,” he said.

Meanwhile, Centre for Development of the People (Cedep) has also condemned the action, describing it as unfortunate.

“Ordinary Malawians wanted to hear Chaponda clarifying on why he still had the audacity to travel to Germany to discharge official duties as a Cabinet minister despite the injunction restraining him from doing so obtained by the civil society organisations  on behalf of all Malawians,” reads a statement signed by Cedep executive director Gift Trapence.

When asked for comment, Minister of Information and Communications Technology Nicholas Dausi said he needed time to consult on what transpired at the airport.n

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