MISA MALAWI STATEMENT ON DEATH THREATS OVER CHASOWA STORY 13th October, 2011 For Immediate Release The

Malawi Chapter of the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) is disturbed with reports that Nation Publications Limited (NPL) Journalist Phillip Pemba is receiving death threats over an article that revealed that Robert Chasowa had d ealings with the police before he was murdered. We are also disturbed with reports that the police summoned Weekend Nation Editor George Kasakula and Malawi News Deputy Editor Innocent Chitosi of Blantyre Newspapers Limited papers that carried detailed insights into Chasowas d eath and dealings with the police for questioning over recordings of the article s. Pembas article, published in Weekend Nation of October 8, gave an insight into wh at could have led to Chasowas death and exposed his dealings with police to help stop the planned August 17 protests against government. One of the callers said they know where I stay and another one asked why I mentioned the name of Inspector General of Police (IG Peter Mukhito) in my sto ry. He said I will die over the story. They said I would have been safe if I lef t out the names of the police officers involved, Pemba is quoted as saying in The Nation of Wednesday, October 12. MISA Malawi considers these threats as well as the summoning of editors Kasakula and Chitosi as deliberate attempts to muzzle journalists and instil fea r in the media sorority. As always stated in our statements, these acts instil f ear and curtail meaningful dialogue and debate on pertinent issues that affect o ur country, the murder of student Robert Chasowa for example. These developments are barbaric, retrogressive and superfluous in an open and de mocratic Malawi and require collective condemnation. We, therefore, call upon the authorities to openly condemn and call for thorough investigations into such threats. We also call upon the police to support and w ork with media in uncovering the truth about Chasowas death and not to intimidate and gag journalists. The media helps the country expose various ills that affec t our country and summoning and intimidating them over the Chasowa article will only raise suspicions than answers. We applaud the police for launching an investigation into Chasowas death. MISA Malawi is, however, calling on IG Peter Mukhito to openly denounce such bar baric acts and for the law enforcers to protect journalists and indeed members o f the public who are constantly receiving threats from unknown persons. IG Peter Mukhito and Southern Region Police Commissioner Rodney Jose, who were b oth mentioned in the article by Pemba and subjects of the death threats, have ch osen not to comment on the threats levelled against Pemba. The article by Pemba indicated that Commissioner Jose took late Chasowa and his colleague to Lilongwe on August 7 to meet Mukhito over the deal to foil the Augu st 17 demonstrations. The story revealed that the IG gave them Chivas Whisky and MK50, 000 each. Jose confirmed taking the group to Lilongwe to meet Mukhito. MISA Malawi is, thus, appealing to the IG and Commissioner Jose to openly denoun ce the death threats on Pemba and summoning of editors whose papers published th e insightful articles. Malawi Police is supposed to protect and ensure peace and security and should, therefore, condemn and distance itself from these death th reats which are most likely tarnishing the image of the service and its top bras

s. Finally, we appeal to journalists to be professional, alert and to openly report threats of any nature to relevant authorities. Signed Anthony Kasunda MISA MALAWI CHAIRPERSON