Malawian Journalists Detained

22 April 2008

Journalist Maxwell Ng’ambi has been arrested by the Police on suspicion that he wanted to interview a former Speaker of parliament and cabinet minister, Sam Mpasu from a prison without authority.

Mpasu was convicted by a magistrate’s court on April 8, 2008 on three charges of abuse of office involving procurement of education materials in 1994 and was sentenced to six years.

In related development the police also detained another journalist, Chinyeke Tembo who went to enquire about the arrest of his colleague.

Tembo told MISA Malawi that he was beaten up by the Police and detained for complimenting the beauty of a policewoman. Malawi laws provide for indecent assault that include gestures made at females.

When MISA Malawi visited them at the Police station on Thursday afternoon, the two had not been charged. Police Public Relations Officer, Willie Mwaluka did not have details.

The arrest of the two brings to five the total number of journalists who have been arrested this year.

BACKGROUND

In February this year police arrested a reporter working for Blantyre Newspapers Ltd, Mike Chipalasa and his editor, James Mphande for publishing a false story likely to cause public alarm and fear.

They were released on bail and have not been taken to court up to date. In March, Police also arrested Wanangwa Tembo, an intern for the same publisher for taking pictures of Police officers who had gathered outside Anti-Corruption Bureau offices where their colleague was detained.

Ends

MISA