MISA MALAWI TRASHES GOVT DECISION TO BAR ZODIAK FROM ATTENDING MUTHARIKA’S PRESS BRIEFING

Media Institute for Southern Africa (MISA) Malawi chapter President Thom Khanje trashed the decision taken by the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) regime to bar Zodiak Broadcasting Station (ZBS) reporters from attending President Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika’s press briefing.

As per tradition, the President is supposed to invite Journalists from all media houses in the country after an International trip to explain to them what exactly transpired during the trip as it was the case with the just ending Commonwealth heads of state summit held in Malta, United Kingdom (UK).

Mutharika held a press briefing on Monday at Kamuzu Palace in the capital Lilongwe and surprisingly ZBS reporters were not among the Journalists who attended the briefing.

Published reports indicate that reporters from the said media house were blocked at the entrance from attending the briefing.

Reacting to the news, MISA Malawi Chapter President expressed shock over the development, saying the development is tantamount to media freedom in the country.

Khanje said government has to work with all media houses in the country.

ZBS was one of the media houses in the country that revealed Mutharika’s extravagance during the United Nation General Assembly (UNGA) trip which saw money amounting to MK300 million.

The radio received heavy criticisms from the fired Presidential Press Officer Gerald Viola, accusing the radio of publishing force report.