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| National |
| DPP drops journalist’s case |
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by
Gedion Munthali, 24 October 2003
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14:02:18
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Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Fahad Assani has said he will never accept to have journalists prosecuted on matters that are not public in nature and has asked the police not to arrest journalists when discharging their professional work.
Assani observed in an interview on Thursday it is unacceptable for the system to intimidate journalists, saying a free press is the only one that can help sustain Malawi’s young democracy.
He was speaking in context of the decision he took to clear Daily Times journalist Frank Namangale currently on bail after being arrested a couple of weeks ago after he wrote a story alleging the police had arrested a son of President Muluzi on suspicion of armed robberies.
“I have called for the file on the case from Blantyre. I want to deal with it myself. But what I would like to say is that the matter will not see the light of the day,” said Assani. “It is a matter that will not be pursued.”
“I think it is unacceptable for the system to intimidate journalists. My advice is that if people feel to have been affronted by journalists they can pursue those issues in their individual capacity. On my part, I will rarely accept to prosecute journalists on matters that are not public in nature,” said Assani.
He said on Thursday he would write Inspector General Joseph Aironi to advise his officers to desist from arresting journalists when executing their professional duties.
“I believe that journalists are a fourth arm of government. They must be free to discharge their responsibilities without the system being an impediment. It is only when they are free that they can contribute towards sustaining our young democracy,” he said.
He advised that when there is a suspected infringement the best way is to discuss with the concerned journalists and, together, find the way forward.
Asked if the case against Malawi Institute of Journalism (MIJ) radio journalist Maganizo Mazeze would also benefit from the stand he has taken, Assani said:
“We would have disposed of the matter a long time ago was it not for the constitutional questions which his lawyer raised and necessitated moving the issue to the High Court.We would rather the court comes up with a response to the constitutional questions as a precedent for the future.”
“However there is marked difference between the issue of Mazeze and Namangale. In my view Namangale was arrested for writing about a real issue. This is what I am against. Mazeze, on the other hand, was arrested on suspicion he wrote about something which was not verified to be true. It is not for me to judge. But the point is that writing without verifying facts in not what journalism is all about, and that is what all journalists must know,” said Assani.
Reacting to the development yesterday the National Media Institute for Southern Africa (Namisa) described Assani as true friend of the media and urged all public officers to heed his advice.
“It is a timely tonic for media freedom in Malawi. If all public officers followed his advice press freedom in Malawi would have been as a beautiful as its constitution is,” said Namisa information officer Innocent Chitosi.
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