Court frees Nyasa Times reporter, hundreds charged over riots
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MZUZU (Malawi Democrat) – The Mzuzu Magistrate Court on Monday July 25 freed unconditionally Nyasa Times Bureau Chief for the northern region, Collins Mtika, after the Police failed to charge him with any offence.
The arrest of Mtika on July 21 was a nationwide clamp down on dissent and a thinly veiled attempt to muzzle the independent media.
According to Malawi’s laws a person is supposed to be charged within 48 hours of arrest and also be given an opportunity to apply for bail.
But Mtika, who was arrested by heavily armed policemen on his way to the Police to seek statistics on the casualties of the July 20 anti- government demonstrations, was not formally charged.
Police verbally concocted trumped up charges against the journalist accusing him of beating a Senior Police Officer named Maluwa during the protests in which trigger happy police officers killed 9 people in Mzuzu City.
Information Minister Mr Simon Vuwa Kaunda is said to have orchestrated the arrest of Mtika to stop him from writing badly about the Bingu wa Mutharika government.
More than 250 people appeared in courts around Malawi to face charges over violent anti-government demonstrations last week.
Protesters in Malawi rioted for several days in three major cities over persistent fuel and foreign exchange reserve shortages and complaints of bad governance.
Officials said more than 500 people were arrested during the unrest.
Central Region Police spokesperson John Namalenga said 100 people appeared Tuesday July 26 in a court in the capital of Lilongwe on charges of arson, looting, theft and possession of stolen property. Namalenga said those charged had been refused bail.
FREED: Journalist Mtika
Malawian activists who helped organise July 29 demonstrations threatened to hold more demonstrations unless the president addresses their grievances before August 16.
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‘Malawians rioted for several days?’ Where? It was 2 days. Journalists should take a portion of the blame in the escalation of these incidencies. Guys sometimes you know how to exagerate things and you are irresponsible. Of course we know that you make more money when people are dying. But you need to be news reporters and not news makers.
hahahaha Kabononkhola you the man….
Iwe usamatiyenjezere nkhani, ndimuuza bingu akusmoketu.
Ahoy Collins, keep up the good work!
my dream is to make history in malawi politics.I am putting things together and only remaining with 2 ingredients then the convoy will be in iy.
There is no proof in the story that vuwa ordered arrest of anyone. There is no denial in the story that the journalist roughed up policeman Maluwa. Please fellow journalists stop ‘prompting’ sttories. we must never participate in anti govt movements. I am saying dis coz am convinced there is no govt that will smile at media so easily. Opposition politicians want to use us toilet paper they wil use us just like ladder once they are there they will turn against us. No govt can easily smile at journalists once in power. Lets safeguard our professionalism integrity and most importantly patriotism. Someimes we can turn into lawyers judges advisers lawyers ACB attacking our own loyal readers and advertizers to please mysterous masters who dont exist. iagree they say every human takes himself to battle but I wish if we could be choosing our battles eptly. Lets handle our country with open mind. political fights never end lets no join them. luk luk JZU Stsarted fighting his way in the 90s today he still fighting.
I totally agree with you harry..i stay in mzuzu and i know mtika as a very ‘nuisance” person. how can a journalist join group of thugs in roughing up a policeman..this shows there is an insanity in the said journalist. paja akuti ndi vice president wa jama..bungwe la antolankhani?? n’kafa nikhale
The journalist was on his way to work to do his job and he got arrested. A Malawi siwowachitira fwenyefwenye ayi. They are watching and listening. If this continues it will end up blowing in their face again. Where are you 2014.
wagwa nayo unyanya kulememba unverified news, atha kumenyadi apolisi ameneyu, anazolowera ku gwira ma aggressive cases ku St. John of God Mental hospital.
I wonder wheather he is indeed a journalist
Kip ap!
Kip