MCP under fire from MISA

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Lazarous Chakwera

Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA Malawi) has criticized Malawi Congress Party (MCP) for keeping a drone belonging to state broadcaster Malawi Broadcasting Cooperation (MBC) that was caught hovering within the premises of the party’s headquarters in Lilongwe on Sunday.

MCP supporters are keeping the drone which they seized during the NEC as they suspected that MBC was using the item to spy on the MCP.

Lazarous Chakwera
MCP: under fire

However, MISA Malawi Chapter has condemned the malpractice by the supporters in a statement that has been signed by its Chairperson Teresa Ndanga.

“The Malawi Chapter of the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA Malawi) would like to condemn the action of Malawi Congress Party (MCP) supporters for attacking reporters from Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) who had been assigned to take aerial visuals of City Centre in the Capital Lilongwe on Sunday, January 28.

“Reports indicate that MBC crew Prince Donda and Elias Chauluka were taking aerial visuals of the City Centre using a drone when MCP supporters attacked the crew on suspicion that they were filming an MCP National Executive (NEC) meeting which was allegedly under way at the MCP offices in the area,” says the statement.

Misa Malawi
Ndanga: Has condemned MCP.

According to the statement, the crew managed to escape without injuries but the drone is apparently with the MCP supporters.

MISA Malawi in the statement said that Lingadzi police station public relations officer Foster Benjamin confirmed the development to MISA Malawi on Monday, January 29 saying the law enforcers were overpowered when they tried to retrieve the drone.

According to MISA Malawi, Benjamin said the police are still investigating the matter.

“MISA Malawi would like to remind people that the media has a right to report within Malawi and abroad and to be accorded the fullest possible facilities for access to information.

“We believe taking footage of the City Centre or even coverage of the MCP meeting is no exception. The MBC crew clearly failed to do their work because of the conduct of the MCP supporters,” reads the statement.

According to the statement, the supporters created a hostile atmosphere for the journalists to undertake their assignment.

“The conduct of the MCP supporters was not only an interference with the work of the media but also a threat to the lives of the crew,” reads the statement.

MISA Malawi added that efforts to speak to MCP officials proved futile but the media body has advised MCP to investigate the matter and return the drone which they are still keeping.

“We would however like to call upon MCP authorities and leadership to arrange for the return of the drone and ensure that the matter is investigated and the culprits disciplined. MCP should also take measures to prevent any future attack on the media.

“Attacking reporters and treating them as criminals is barbaric and retrogressive. MISA Malawi would like to caution the general public against any form of attack on journalists in their line of duty,” adds the statement.

MISA Malawi has also stressed that journalists have a responsibility to report and inform Malawians on developments in the country and any form of attack on journalists is an infringement on not just the media’s right to gather and report but also citizens’ right to know.

The media body has however urged media houses to be professional in line of their duty.

“In the same vein we would like to call upon all media outlets and practitioners to be professional and impartial in their work. Only a professional media sector can safeguard our nascent democracy and facilitate socio-economic development of our country,” reads the statement.

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90 Comments

  1. Do not lie about MISA….. anywhere in the world private premises are private and spying or any unauthorised trespassing is prohibited and prosecution it follows

  2. Nanga Mcp ikapita ku court umboni akapereka uti akabweza drone yo? Apa chikufunika Mcp pitani ku court amene anabwera ndi drone imeneyi akayankhe mlandu wa ukazitape ndicholinga chake amafuna adzatani ndipo adamutuma ndini? MISA tafufuzani bwino wolakwa ndani kudzakuputa pakhomo pako ndikubwezera? Statement mwayankhula kumapetoyi the media houses must be proffesional in their line of duty basi munayenera kuwayankha choncho a Mbc. MISA malawi dziwani kuti iyi ndinkhani wina atha kulipira nazo ndalama zambiri izi.

    1. Chakwera kaya mukuti ndi dictator zanu izo ife zizavotela chakwera infact malawi needs a leadership with an element of dictatorship. So sure chakwera is ok osati DPP nyasi

    2. you are right my dear, this country needs a man like him coz the way he has handled the issue of kaliwo and his ill-minded friends has shown that chakwera wont shield thieves in his government when in power

    3. Exactly DPP, UDF and PP are all scared of MCP chakwera in particular. They would rather join hands against chakwera. That only speaks alot as to why why why they don’t want chakwera. Chakwera is no nosense

  3. Ndege Yawoyo Imakatani Kumeneko Iyichita Bwino Zachamba Eti? Amalawi Tiweruza Tokha Pa 2019 Nanunso A Misa Zanu Izo…

  4. amatinyasaso a mbc anachuluka uchimidzi machende awoso olo muzingokangana ife sitizaka votabe samatilabadira anthuwa ndi agalu tizaukira nthawi inayake sitizalora tizaphana nanu ku shooter kutemana

  5. Atolakhaninose amene muliotengeka ndindalama adzakuphani inumukuti kuitha tchito kkkkk pitilizani tikuoneni mutamwalila pompano zitsiluinu

  6. aMBC amapanga zopusa kwambiri mumvere or kuwonera ma program awo pa TV or radio always they are talking against MCP I will not surprise when Congress came back in power & fire all employees from this tax funded broadcast

    1. Sabc is a govt funded org but it operates like an independent institution. It will take us more years to reach that level.

  7. Ngati akukasungabe alakwitsadi, coz kakuyenera kungoswedwa basi..zomwe inapanga MBC si utolankhani koma ukanyembete..zitsiru za atolankhani, kungofuna kuoneka abwino pamaso pachimunthu chinachake

    1. ndizinkhumba zimenezi,zimene anapangazi ndichimodzimodzi kumakamvesela nkhani zakuchipinda pawindo la kwaneba. this is not mbc but dpp radio station

  8. Inu AMisa Inu Mutipalamulitsa Ka Drone Kadatani Ku Jambula Ndzulolake Ndiye Majambula Tsiku La Msonkhano MKukhalaso Ka Mbc Yoti Sifunira Zabwino Mcp Kadakakhala Ka Enawa Kadaapeledwa Koma Mbc I Hate It So Much Even Try To Listen To Its Voices

    1. Yes, limenelo nde funso lenileni. Amapanga air zoipa zokhazokha anyani amenewa koma zabwino samapanga. Akaitaye drone camera imeneyo

  9. Nonsense ma sipayi ngati amenewa mesa kuli ufumu munthu sangakujambule mobisa iwe usakufuna komaso ndava akumajambura anthu akugona akufuna aziona chani MBC ndi chimodzimodzi fiti kuwapeza kuwaonetsa basi

  10. Kodi loko utolankhaniwo…. Supempha chilolezo komwe akufuna kugwira ntchito? Musiyanitse ukazitape ndi utola nkhani. Munthu sungapite mumpanda mwa eni ake opanda chilolezo mumdzina loti ndiwe mtolankhani. Nanga atakutema kukuganizira kuti ndiwe wakuba???? Be fair pliz. Ndikuwona kuti iwowa ngati atolankhani amayenera kuwadziwitsa akulikulu la MCP kuti tikufuna tigwire nawo ntchito ku office kwanu kuno. Remember kuti inuso atolankhani ndi amene mumalakwitsa zinthu po panga ma report anu…. Kaya ndi umbuli wangawu, koma chomwe ndawona apa ndichoti iwowa a MBC adakanena kuti tikufuna tigwire nawo ntchito kumpanda kwanuku. Zilitu ndi malire zinthuzi. Basi ulendo kumakajambula zinthunzi kuchipinda kwa eni ake ali maliseche…..my foot!

    1. Anthu opusa amenewa kwabasi. Ndipo drone camera imeneyi asaipeleke. Akataye basi.

      Ajambule zinthuzo azikapangila propaganda yawoyo kumupopa bwampini wawoyo. 2019 Pitala ukapitilize kusamala green card yako demeti

    2. We heard that MCP meeting was indoor in nature and all members of media were locked outside the conference room. Including MBC journalists.

      So were the drone enter inside the conference room or it was just moving around the premises?
      Were the hand cameras confiscated too? If not, why not?

      Regardless that MBC is voice amplifier for DPP. But it has to enjoy the same rights as other media houses do, in as far as MISA malawi is concerned.

    3. Iweyo mbc nonse ndinu zitsiru tsikulilonse mmakhalira utukwana CHAKWERA nudziwa kuti ndiwe wa DPP kasumeni kuti MCP yakupikitsani

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