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| National |
| Malawi Government arrests 3 journalists over ghosts |
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by
Bright Sonani and Zainah Liwanda, 16 March 2005
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15:40:02
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Police on Tuesday morning arrested three journalists over a story in which President Bingu wa Mutharika is said to have asked for divine intervention to exorcise ghosts haunting him at his New State House residence in Lilongwe.
Over 20 police officers stormed the residences of Nation Publications Limited (NPL) senior reporter Mabvuto Banda and BBC correspondent Raphael Tenthani in Blantyre in the early hours of the morning and both were taken to Blantyre Police Station before being moved over 320 kilometres to Police Headquarters in Lilongwe.
Horace Nyaka, press officer for Vice President Cassim Chilumpha, was picked later in the day.
Banda and Tenthani were arrested following publication in the Weekend Nation and a broadcast on BBC over the weekend while Nyaka is being suspected of leaking the story to the press.
“The two (Banda and Tenthani) have been charged with publishing a false story likely to cause public fear contrary to Section 60 (1) of the penal code,” said police assistant spokesperson Kelvin Maigwa when confirming the arrests.
He said Nyaka has been arrested as an accomplice to the two journalists.
“But I do not know how he is part of it,” he added.
Maigwa said the two journalists were transferred to Lilongwe, where Police has its headquarters for the Police to easily work on the case.
Asked why the two have to be arrested by over 20 police officers at around 4 AM, Maigwa said: “That was very normal and procedural. The number of police officers to effect an arrest depends on the availability of the officers.”
A close relation to Nyaka confirmed the arrest of his relative and said he was briefed that he was being suspected of giving out information about the ghosts at the State House to the two journalists. Nyaka was arrested at his office.
“I do not know what he has been charged with but that is what I have been told so far,” he said.
NPL lawyer Titus Mvalo on Tuesday afternoon said Banda had not yet been charged.
“Only the warrant of arrest mentioned an offence of publishing a false news article. Since he has not yet been charged we are preparing for a bail application through the courts because we suspect that police are just acting on orders and will not be able to grant the bail,” said Mvalo.
NPL Marketing Manager Joseph Makuwira said the company would not comment on the said story since they do not know the charge yet.
“We can not say anything because at the moment we do not know why Mabvuto has been arrested,” he said.
Government spokesperson Ken Lipenga, who is also Information Minister, declined to comment.
“I have just learnt about the arrest but officially I haven’t been told anything I intend to find out because I do not know anything more than that,” he said.
Weekend Nation of March 12 to 13 quoted presidential advisor on Christian affairs Malani Mtonga as confirming that he asked the faith community to conduct prayers at the New State House to cast away the spirits.
But the story irked Mutharika who on his return from his tour of Europe disputed it and lashed out at journalists that they are working on instructions from ‘unscrupulous politicians’ who are bribing them to write negative stories about his administration.
Meanwhile, journalists in Lilongwe on Tuesday stormed Lilongwe Police Station demonstrating against the arrest of their colleagues, Banda, Tenthani and Nyaka for allegedly publishing false information.
National Media Institute of Southern Africa (Namisa) information and research officer Innocent Chitosi, who was part of the demonstration, condemned the arrests, saying government’s image has been dented.
“It’s very unfortunate that the journalists were arrested, but above all they were arrested in Blantyre and we are questioning why they had to take them all the way to Lilongwe. This in fact has dented government’s image,” said Chitosi.
Chitosi said Namisa has hired lawyer Ian Malera of T and F partners to seek their bail, adding that he was optimistic that they would be released.
He said they are discussing with government on the issue.
In an interview at Lilongwe police cells, the three said they had been charged with publication of false information that the president was being haunted by ghosts at New State House but at the time of the interview, no statement had been written down.
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