The Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) Malawi Chapter has condemned condemns the attack on Nation Publications Limited (NPL) reporter Jonathan Pasungwi by some Mzuzu University (Mzuni) students.
On Friday, September 15, 2023, a grouping of Mzuni students manhandled Pasungwi, took his phone and deleted all the pictures for reporting on their demonstrations against fees hike.
In a statement MISA Malawi Chairperson Golden Matonga has described the attack as barbaric.
“We find it very disturbing that the university students who are expected to be intellectually mature and be in the forefront protecting freedoms violently attacked a journalist in the line of duty. It is even more worrying that the students violated media freedom in the course of enjoying their own freedom of assembly.
“MISA Malawi reiterates the call for everyone, including demonstrators, to respect and uphold Constitutionally guaranteed press freedom at all times. Physically or verbally attacking journalists and forcefully deleting information during demonstrations is not only wrong but criminal,” said Matonga.
Matonga has since urged the law enforcers to arrest the said perpetrators.
Meanwhile, Mzuzu University has been closed.
