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| National |
| Journalists body chides State House |
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by
Bright Sonani, 09 March 2005
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15:59:31
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National Media Institute of Southern Africa (Namisa) has told the State House to stop making allegations against the media that would bring unwarranted anxiety among Malawians and also bring negative repercussion into itself.
Namisa Malawi Chapter in a statement on Tuesday also asked President Bingu wa Mutharika to stop compromising editorial independence of public media houses by hand-picking his own reporters for his foreign trips.
Namisa president Lewis Msasa said during investigation into the recent bickering between the State House and The Chronicle newspaper, the State House failed to bring evidence on its allegations that Chronicle editor-in-chief Rob Jamieson demanded K27 million ($250,000) from President Bingu wa Mutharika as revealed in The Democratus newspaper.
“Much as we would not like to doubt the integrity of the State House or sanctify Mr Jamieson, we are of a considered view that State House has no evidence. It is also our finding that both parties are blackmailing each other apparently over a breached contract that the country is yet to know,” said Msasa.
He said efforts to get documentary evidence on the allegations, from The Democratus, State House Press Officer Prescott Gonani as well as Chief of Staff Ken Ng’oma yielded nothing.
Msasa said, however, Jamieson admitted having met Mutharika but said last time he went to see him was in his capacity as chairperson of the National Editors Forum (Neform) and only wanted to invite him to open Southern African Editors Forum (SAEF) general meeting.
“We wish to ask the State House to be cautious on allegations against the media as this may cause unwarranted anxiety among Malawians. We would appreciate it if the State House was mindful of the esteem in which Malawians hold it and the repercussions any statement it makes might have,” added Msasa.
He also advised both media practitioners and houses to be astute in their dealings with politicians and avoid personalising issues concerning the fraternity.
“Namisa also wishes to ask all media houses not to be influenced by external forces when handling stories. The media should run stories on conviction of their truth,” said Msasa.
On Mutharika hand-picking of journalists on foreign trips, Msasa said much as the President has the prerogative to choose who to cover him, it would be helpful if such prerogative is used in a positive direction for the sake of a vibrant media industry.
Said Msasa: “We understand the President is doing this to ensure that those who cover him are trustworthy. While we share this concern, we wish to remind the President that the same reporters he rejects on foreign trips, effectively cover him on local tours.
“We appeal to those advising the President not to do him a disservice by recommending disc jockeys, producers or announcers to cover him. Malawians have high regard for President Mutharika and would be interested to get unadulterated reports from his trips.”
Msasa also advised the President’s ‘special guests’ not to sacrifice media professionalism for personal greed to avoid turning themselves into pariahs in professional circles.
“Such practitioners should know that others have done that before and ended up regretting with time. We do not want to see a scenario whereby such practitioners will be avoided like plague in the media fraternity,” he added.
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