By Chisomo Phiri
BLANTYRE-(MaraviPost)-The Malawi Attorney General (AG) Thabo Chakaka-Nyirenda on Wednesday, April 6, 2022 apologized for the arbitrary detention of Platform for Investigative Journalism (PIJ) Managing Director Gregory Gondwe.
Gondwe was detained by the Police on Tuesday April, 5, 2022 over the AG’s leaked legal opinion on government’s contracts agreement.
He was then forced to disclose the source of a document he used in the story.
MISA Malawi Chairperson Teresa Temweka Ndanga confirmed in a statement that they held a meeting on Wednesday April 6, 2022 with Nyirenda in his office at Capital Hill in Lillongwe where he apologized for the blunder and made a comment that the government will repeal or review some archaic laws that restrict media freedom, freedom of expression and Violate right to privacy.
“The laws in question include sedition laws and and sanctions of protected flag, Emblems and Names Act which are used to punish government critics and are inconsistent with the Constitution of Malawi which guarantees freedom of opinion, freedom of expression and media freedom,” said Ndanga in a statement.
She added” Section 21 of the Malawi’s Constitution provides that every person shall have the right to personal privacy.
” Forcing a Journalist to reveal sources of their own information is against protection of legally privileged information and whistle blower protection provisions of the Access to Information ( ATI) Act.
” It is unfortunate that we are retrogressing instead of defending and building our nascent democracy”.
Police released Gondwe on bail but held on the computer and phone they confiscated overnight before returning them in the morning of Wednesday April 6,2022.
