Attacks on the Press 2009: Africa Developments
ATTACKS ON THE PRESS: 2009 • Main Index AFRICA Regional Analysis: • In African hot spots, journalists forced into exile Country Summaries • DRC • Ethiopia • Gambia • Madagascar • Niger • Nigeria • Somalia • Uganda • Zambia • Zimbabwe • Other developments BOTSWANA A media law was enacted in January requiring government…
The Malawian who harnessed the airwaves
After The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind, the autobiography of ingenious 22-year-old William Kamkwamba’s homemade electric windmill in Malawi, comes “the boy who harnessed the airwaves” by building a radio station with rudimentary materials. The tale of 21-year-old Malawian Gabriel Kondesi also showcases the inventiveness spawned by life in this impoverished, landlocked nation in southeastern…
Malawi opposition radio station still off the air
New York, May 27, 2009–A magistrate in Malawi should allow an opposition radio station sealed by police during general elections on May 19 to reopen, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. CPJ also called on authorities to drop criminal charges against two station presenters.
Malawi journalists detained during presidential election
New York, May 19, 2009–Authorities in Malawi should immediately release three journalists arrested today in a police raid on an opposition radio station, the Committee to Protect Journalists said. The country is holding general elections between today and Thursday.
In Malawi, government agency shuts fledgling television station
New York, November 2, 2007–State regulators in the commercial city of Blantyre summarily pulled off the air on Tuesday Malawi’s first private television station, citing an alleged regulatory violation, according to news reports and local journalists. The ruling, targeting a fledgling station close to opposition leader Bakili Muluzi in the lead-up to presidential polls in…
In Malawi, private radio stations censored over political coverage
New York, April 13, 2007—Live radio broadcasts of opposition rallies in the lead-up to presidential polls in 2009 led state regulators in the commercial city of Blantyre this week to bar all private radio stations in Malawi from airing live broadcasts without permission, according to local journalists and media reports. Officials accused unnamed stations of…
Two journalists charged with criminal libel
May 29, 2006 Posted: July 10, 2006 Jika Nkolokosa, Blantyre Newspapers Ltd. Maxwell Ng’ambi, Blantyre Newspapers Ltd. LEGAL ACTION Nkolokosa, general manager of the private media group Blantyre Newspapers Limited (BNL), and Ng’ambi, a reporter for BNL, were charged with criminal libel in connection with articles criticizing Malawi’s health minister. BNL publishes the Daily Times…
Journalists detained overnight, charged with criminal libel
May 8, 2006 Rob Jamieson, The Chronicle Arnold Mlelemba, The Chronicle Dickson Kashoti, The Chronicle HARASSED, LEGAL ACTION Three journalists working for the private weekly newspaper The Chronicle were detained and charged with criminal libel in connection with an article alleging that Malawi’s then-attorney general was involved in the theft of a computer. Attorney General…