Malawi Editors Forum caution JB on press conferences
The Malawi Editors Forum (Maef) has cautioned President Joyce Banda to desist from disrupting questions from journalists and engaging herself in a duel with the media.
In a statement released on Thursday, the forum has reminded Banda to keep in mind the unfair advantage she has in those situations given her position in society and refrain from exposing herself to situations that may embarrass the high office she holds.
The statement further condemns continued presence of government and party officials at presidential press conferences, saying this can inhibit the media from asking relevant questions.
The editors statement comes a day after scores of government officials and People’s Party (PP) followers thronged Sanjika Palace in Blantyre on Wednesday to attend the press conference.
Although no journalist was targeted for asking unpalatable questions, the forum believes the action is aimed at instilling fear among journalists so that they do not tackle issues of national interest in their questions.
The statement further condemns the manner and time the conference was held, saying it had cost the President a golden opportunity to clear the mist surrounding several issues of the day.
Maef regretted that what was supposed to be a press conference was dominated by statements from the President and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and only little time was provided for questions.
“It is our feeling that these cadres have several other opportunities to interact with the President and the atmosphere in such press conferences is intimidating,” reads the statement released on Thursday and signed by Maef chairperson Cliff Kawanga and his secretary general Gracian Tukula.
But the forum commended the ‘political operatives present at Sanjika Palace for exercising restraint despite their clear discomfort with some of the questions raised by the media’.
