NATIONAL NEWS (5369)
AHL Group Saves Chiradzulu DHO
There are prospects of reduced malaria attacks at Chiradzulu hospital following the spraying of terminator chemical by AHL Group which controls pests including mosquitoes, bed bugs and cockroaches.
Malawi’s State Of The Environment ‘Pathetic’ - Environmentalist
An Environmentalist has decried continued failure by the country to protect the trees that are planted year in year out saying stakeholders are spending billions of kwacha in such initiatives without follow up on the trees to ensure maximum survival.
Violence Against the Elderly Still on the Rise in Chitipa
Cases of violence against the elderly in Chitipa, are showing no signs of abating despite massive campaigns against the vice.
Teacher Writes History Curriculum Book
A teacher at Nazarene Mission Secondary School in Blantyre has written a questions and answers history book for junior secondary school students after noting how students struggle with the subject.
Deforestation Worries TEVETA
Technical, Entrepreneurial and Vocational Education and Training Authority (TEVETA) says continued deforestation has negatively impacted one of its courses; carpentry and joinery.
Commissioner Linda Kunje Annoys Committee of Parliament
A commissioner of the Malawi Electoral Commission, Linda Kunje, suggested Tuesday that presiding officers who are known to have used correctional fluid during the 2019 tripartite elections would be sanctioned after the supreme court determines the way forward in the appeal case now before it in the presidential election case. She, however, said the silence of the law on the matter makes use of the act acceptable.
6 Year IHL for Stealing Baby
The Magistrate’s Court in Mulanje on Tuesday convicted and sentenced to six years imprisonment a 30 year old woman for stealing a two day old baby at Mulanje district hospital on Monday.
8 Year Old Girl in Need of Kidney Transplant
An 8 year old girl at Chimwankhunda in Blantyre is in dire need of assistance as she requires a kidney transplant.
Japan Grants Malawi K120m For Education Sector
The Japanese government has provided a grant of 120 Million Kwacha to be implemented towards improving access to quality health and education services in Malawi.
Deputy Minister Apologizes For Insulting Journalist, Retracts
Official statement
MISA Malawi would like to inform its membership and the general public that the Deputy Minister of Transport and Public Works Honourable Charles Mchacha has apologised for verbally attacking and intimidating Nation Publications Limited (NPL) journalist Bobby Kabango.
Honourable Mchacha used all sorts of swearwords in a recorded phone conversation with Mr. Kabango who was pursuing a story on how the Deputy Minister allegedly acquired public land in Limbe, Blantyre.
On Tuesday, February 11, 2020, Honourable Mchacha went to NPL offices in Blantyre to apologise for his behaviour. Honourable Mchacha apologised in the presence of MISA Malawi National Governing Council (NGC) member Mandy Pondani, Human Rights Consultative Committee (HRCC) Chair Robert Mkwezalamba and NPL officials.
During the meeting, Mchacha said he respects journalists and appreciates the role the media plays in a democracy.
“It was sad that we failed to understand each other and handle the situation well. So, I am here to apologise to my friend [ Bobby] and the entire Nation management for the words I uttered to Bobby Kabango,” Mchacha said.
Both Mr Kabango and NPL Deputy Chief Executive Officer Alfred Ntonga accepted the apology.
Speaking during the meeting, Pondani appealed to the minister, other ministers and government officials to be exemplary and uphold and respect human rights, including media freedom and freedom of expression.
“You hold senior public positions and your conduct should befit those positions. As journalists we also work to promote public good and we want to feel safe when doing our work. It’s intimidating and scary when senior government officials attack instead of protecting us,” Pondani said.
MISA Malawi wrote Honourable Mchacha demanding a public apology for verbally attacking and intimidating Mr. Kabango.
The Chapter also asked Minister of Information, Honourable Mark Botomani, to disassociate government from Honourable Mchacha’s conduct and assure the nation that Honourable Mchacha’s actions were not a reflection of government policy to threaten and intimidate journalists working to uphold principles of transparency and accountability in a nation whose constitution guarantees media freedom.
Honourable Mchacha’s actions were a violation of media freedom and freedom of expression and could be construed as government attempts to silence journalists in the country.
