“We acknowledge and applaud the Police for their timely intervention which saved Banda but they should have apprehended the attackers and taken them to court for assault.

“Assaulting journalists for simply doing their work is barbaric and unconstitutional. Journalists are key during the upcoming elections as well as the on-going fight against Covid-19,” said Misa-Malawi Chairperson Teresa Ndanga in a statement issued Friday May 8^th, 2020.

 According to Misa-Malawi, Banda was rescued by Malawi Police Officers, who we believe helped Banda survive the attack without any injuries.

In the statement, Misa-Malawi observes that Banda’s attack was “barbaric and retrogressive for Malawi”.

“It is even appalling coming five days after World Press Freedom Day when the world celebrates the importance of a free media in society,” Ndanga said in a statement issued Friday May 8^th, 2020.

Ndanga observed that a free media is key to democracy and that its importance during elections cannot be overemphasized.

She has since appealed to stakeholders to ensure that the media is ‘accorded the fullest possible facilities’ and support to access and disseminate information to help Malawians make informed decisions during the forth-coming presidential rerun election as well as the fight against Covid-19.

“Violence has no place in a democratic society. This cuts across the board regardless of whether the victim is a journalist or party supporter.

“As we approach the elections, we appeal to all political parties to ensure that those responsible for violence are disciplined and held accountable for their actions,” reads the statement.

Misa-Malawi urges law enforcers to take action and arrest perpetrators of violence and attacks on journalists.

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