Parliamentary chief security officer Youngson Chilinda on Thursday beat up Nation Publications Limited (NPL) photojournalist Thoko Chikondi for allegedly taking Chilinda’s pictures without his consent.
However, Chikondi categorically denied taking pictures of Chilinda, saying she had no business with him.
“I was with my fellow photojournalist Jacob Nankhonya outside the Parliament chamber waiting to capture John Kapito during the presentation of a petition to the National Assembly.
Added Chikondi in an interview: “After declining that I was not taking photos of Chilinda, he descended on me, with my camera as his target. He punched my face with it, but I wrestled with him; that’s when he started pouncing on me with his hands. It took police security at the main gate and Kapito to rescue me from Chilinda, who was not in a compromising mood and hurling insults at me. That time, I had already lost my camera lens. Of course, my camera is intact.”
Chikondi was taken to Lingadzi Police Sub-station for a statement before being referred to Kamuzu Central Hospital (KCH) where she was treated as an outpatient for eye ache, general body pains and soft tissue injury, according to a medical report.
Kapito, who was the main witness, confirmed rescuing Chikondi from Chilinda’s hands.
“She was taking my photos as other journalists listened to what I was saying about the petition when Chilinda grabbed Chikondi’s camera.
“The trouble was that the camera was around her neck and the more she wrestled with him, the more he assaulted and manhandled her left, right and centre. I later escorted Chikondi to police where I gave my statement,” said Kapito.
Parliament spokesperson Leonard Mengezi said: “We have been in a meeting since morning and I am hearing of this incident now. But we will investigate the matter to get the truth.”
Meanwhile, Misa Malawi chapter says it has learnt with great shock about the incident and has since condemned it.
“If this person did not want to be photographed, he could have avoided being in a public place.
“We would like to ask Parliament to rise above the incident and take disciplinary measures against the perpetrator,” said Misa chairperson Anthony Kasunda.
NPL Management had not yet received a full report of the incident as we went to press, hence could not comment on the matter.
