The Journalist Union of Malawi(JUMA) has shown concern over the recent arrest of Glalaxy FM Journalist Sylvester Namiwa for publicly exposing list of 50 companies (top of the list including those owned by the VP and cabinet ministers) involved in the cash-gate scandal which involves looting an plundering public coffers recently.
The Union has blasted the government’s legislation on media for unfairly dealing with the issue followed by the use of state machinery like the police and not expected appropriate channels in resolving the issue.
“The use of state machinery like the police when clear and appropriate channels of resolving media grievances are available is tantamount to gaggling the press and suppressing freedom of expression, as such practices instils unnecessary fear in people that the government is entrusted to govern.”
“Government’s action in this instance has brought to the fore the need for the review and appeal of laws that restrict free speech, such as Criminal Defamation which are used to silence stifle media reforms,” reads the JUMA.
JUMA has made it clear that it is not supporting unprofessionalism on media practitioners but emphasized that whenever and whoever is aggrieved by any media house should use proper channels like engaging the MISA and MACRA bodies.
“Although JUMA does not condone professional misconduct by its members in the execution of noble profession, we don’t think arrest of a journalist by the police for unprofessional conduct was necessary and or appropriate for the government while there would be proper channels to deal with the issue,” stated the JUMA report.
An immediate warrant of arrest was announced for the journalist and his editor who are still at large and sources say that, they have received a variety of threats from People’s Party top officials exposed in the cash gate scandal and some reports say the officials are fighting for the closure of the radio station.
“So you want or discredit our government, let`s wait and see how far you will go… but we will hunt you down till we burn your skin,” reads one of the threat messages seen by the Mara Post.
Malawi was recently hit by a cash-gate scandal were millions of tax payers money was looted by former Malawian cabinet officials and the President Joyce Banda responded by putting a new cabinet to replace a corrupt one.
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