Media Institute of Southern Africa and the Media Council of Malawi has strongly condemn threats and attacks on Times Group Editor-in-Chief George Kasakula and Mibawa Television Presenter and Reporter, Steve Kondwa Banda over their opinions on Covid-19 risk allowance demands by teachers.
Kasakula and Banda are said to have claimed that teachers are being inconsiderate for demanding COVID-19 allowances as the schools are set to open this coming month as announced by President Dr. Lazarus Chakwera.
The comments by the two has attracted anger from teachers as others are calling them to threaten them.
In a joint statement signed by Wisdom Chimgwede and Teresa Ndanga of MISA Malawi says the attack on the two journalists is a direct attack on media freedom.
“We remind those issuing these threats and attacks that sections 34, 35 and 36 of the Republican Constitution guarantee freedom of opinion, freedom of expression and freedom of the press.
The threats and attacks on Kasakula and Banda are not only criminal, but a direct attack on media freedom, freedom of expression and freedom of opinion.
“We would want to believe that those issuing such attacks are members of the Teachers’ Union of Malawi (TUM). We, therefore, urge the Teachers’ Union of Malawi to tame its members before we are forced to take further action,” reads part the statement.
Added the statement: “We wish to remind TUM and all teachers in Malawi that the media has on innumerable occasions covered stories in the education sector that have positively impacted the teachers’ welfare. It will therefore be shortsightedness to turn the two sides against each other because of some difference in opinion.
“We would further like to remind members of the general public that those aggrieved or injured by the media in any way, can report to and engage MCM; the body entrusted with the responsibility of upholding media professionalism in the country, for redress, rather than resorting to criminal ways of demonstrating dissent.”
