Malawi
Malawian journalists threatened at airport

afrol News, 13 August - John Saini, publisher of Malawi's quarterly magazine, "Pride", was threatened on Saturday, August 11, 2001, at Chileka International Airport by suspected ruling United Democratic Front (UDF) party officials.

The incident happened as Malawian President Bakili Muluzi was welcoming leaders of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), according to reports from the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA).

The party officials threatened to kill the journalist if he continued publishing stories about the government - stories which they deemed in "bad taste", MISA reports from Malawi.

Saini had gone to the airport to attend a press conference convened by the arriving heads of state and to sell the latest edition of his magazine. After the incident, Saini and his sales agents vacated the airport complex for fear that UDF officials might attack them. 

Attacks on the media increasing
Ruling party UDF has developed a more aggressive style over the last year as it has become under strong national and international pressure not to continue pushing for a third, unconstitutional term for President Muluzi. Attacks on the critical press in particular have increased. 

In May this year, a Malawian publishing house and a newspaper came under attack for having reported critically on President Bakili Muluzi and his assumed intention of running for an unconstitutional third term.

The owner of Karora Printers & Publishing House, Kalera Mhango, and editor of "The Dispatch" newspaper, Martines Namingah, effectively ended a police search when they surrendered themselves to Lingadzi police station on 25 and 26 May respectively. The two were charged with "publishing false information likely to cause public fear and alarm", an offence they both denied having committed.

Media activists have viewed this recent clampdowns on the media in Malawi as an effort to silence dissenting voices and as a prelude to an unconstitutional third term bid by the incumbent president.

Pressure against Muluzi has increased over the last year, including the political opposition, some independent media and most religious organisations of the country. Oppositional Dan Msowoya recently stated "Muluzi wants to rule this country for three terms as if he has done anything good but he has failed, hopelessly." Msowoya called for earlier elections in reaction to increased police threats against opposition politicians.

Sources: Based on Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) and afrol archives 

 

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