Media monitoring groups in Malawi have called on authorities to first refer to them any matter concerning journalists accused of professional misconduct. This follows the recent arrest of Justice Mponda, editor of internet publication Malawi Voice, on charges of publishing false news likely to cause fear and alarm among the people. Mponda was arrested after running a story based on what government officials say was a “fake Facebook account” for Malawi President Joyce Banda, on which the president allegedly announced she had failed to run the country and would resign. He is free on bail.
Soldiers shoot fisherman
A Zambian fisherman was recently shot and wounded by Congolese marine officers on Luapula River in Mwense District. Webby Mambwe (32) was shot while in the company of five friends on Sunday afternoon and the bullet went in through his cheek and grazed the left side of his neck. He is currently admitted to Mansa General Hospital. Police deputy spokesperson, Charity Chanda, said the six were suspected of fishing on the Congolese side of the River.
Zambian deaf demand driver’s licences
The Zambia Deaf Youth and women recently lampooned the country’s authorities for their continued refusal to grant driving licences to deaf people. A ZDYM spokesperson, Frank Musukwa said deafness did not in any way limit a person’s ability to drive a car or other vehicles.
Dhlakama back in the bush
Hundreds of former guerrillas from Mozambique’s Renamo have set up camp in the bush again, on the orders of leader Alfonso Dhlakama, twenty years after the end of the country’s civil war. Dhlakama called his supporters back to their old military base close to the Gorongosa Game Park last week and ordered his former foes in the ruling Frelimo party that they could come out to the bush if they wanted to talk to him.
Mswati still in “absolute” control
The on-going political crisis in Swaziland, which entered its third week, showed that King Mswati III ‘continues to enjoy almost absolute control over the country,’ Freedom House said this week. Parliament passed a vote of no-confidence in the government and according to the Swazi Constitution King Mswati III should have sacked the government, but he did not. Instead, pressure was put on members of the House and after 12 days of uncertainty, they reversed the decision in a controversial vote.
Apartheid photographer dies
South African photographer, Alfred Khumalo, who captured pictures of the brutalities of the apartheid regime and piled pressure on the white-minority government, recently died of renal failure. He was aged 82. Khumalo made his name as a photographer for Drum magazine, initially a black lifestyle magazine that was notable for its reportage of township life under the apartheid state. Among his photographs was the student uprisings of the 1970s. He also captured images of Nelson Mandela when he was released from prison to lead the country to its first democratic elections in 1994.
Post published in: Africa News