News / Africa
Online journalist acquitted
12 Feb 2013 at 00:33hrs | Views
The Lilongwe Magistrates Court on Friday, 8 February 2013, acquitted online journalist, Justice Mponda. He was arrested on 15 October, 2013 for allegedly insulting President Joyce Banda, publishing false information likely to cause public fear and criminal libel. However, the State dropped other charges and maintained the charge for publishing false information likely to cause public fear.
Mponda corresponds for an online publication, Malawi Voice.
In an interview with the Malawi Chapter of the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA-Malawi), Mponda's lawyer, Chancy Gondwe, said the State had failed to prosecute his client.
"State witnesses were not present during the hearing today including the principle witness Reverend Malani Mtonga. The Reverend excused himself, saying, he is waiting for a report from a State House IT expert," Gondwe said, adding that he will now sue the State for false imprisonment.
"I will sue the State for the costs my client has incurred in this case, false imprisonment, assassination of character among others," Gondwe said.
Commenting on the acquittal, MISA-Malawi Chaireprson, Anthony Kasunda, appealed to the State to conduct thorough investigations before arresting journalists.
"This just shows that the State was not ready. The State should not rush to arrest journalists without investigations. At the same time, I would like to appeal to my fellow journalists to strive for professionalism and excellence [in their work]," he said.
The new developments are likely to open up debate, in Malawi, on the role of new media and the application of professional media ethics in the provision of online news services. Online publishing in Malawi is still relatively new but questions are arising regarding the conduct of several online media. The government of Malawi has introduced a Bill which, if it becomes law, will regulate online media as one of its key functions.
"We hope that there can now be a sincere and honest dialogue in Malawi on the role of new media and also on the responsibilities of online news service providers. As we have said before, online publishing is irreversible but great effort is still needed to ensure that consumers are exposed to digital media products of a high quality and information that is accurate and balanced," said Levi Kabwato, MISA Programme Specialist for Media Freedom Monitoring and Research.
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For comments or queries, please contact:
Aubrey Chikungwa, MISA-Malawi National Director, Email: misama@globemw.net
OR
Levi Kabwato, MISA Programme Specialist: Media Freedom Monitoring & Research, Email: levi@misa.org
Mponda corresponds for an online publication, Malawi Voice.
In an interview with the Malawi Chapter of the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA-Malawi), Mponda's lawyer, Chancy Gondwe, said the State had failed to prosecute his client.
"State witnesses were not present during the hearing today including the principle witness Reverend Malani Mtonga. The Reverend excused himself, saying, he is waiting for a report from a State House IT expert," Gondwe said, adding that he will now sue the State for false imprisonment.
"I will sue the State for the costs my client has incurred in this case, false imprisonment, assassination of character among others," Gondwe said.
"This just shows that the State was not ready. The State should not rush to arrest journalists without investigations. At the same time, I would like to appeal to my fellow journalists to strive for professionalism and excellence [in their work]," he said.
The new developments are likely to open up debate, in Malawi, on the role of new media and the application of professional media ethics in the provision of online news services. Online publishing in Malawi is still relatively new but questions are arising regarding the conduct of several online media. The government of Malawi has introduced a Bill which, if it becomes law, will regulate online media as one of its key functions.
"We hope that there can now be a sincere and honest dialogue in Malawi on the role of new media and also on the responsibilities of online news service providers. As we have said before, online publishing is irreversible but great effort is still needed to ensure that consumers are exposed to digital media products of a high quality and information that is accurate and balanced," said Levi Kabwato, MISA Programme Specialist for Media Freedom Monitoring and Research.
-------------
For comments or queries, please contact:
Aubrey Chikungwa, MISA-Malawi National Director, Email: misama@globemw.net
OR
Levi Kabwato, MISA Programme Specialist: Media Freedom Monitoring & Research, Email: levi@misa.org
Source - MISA-Malawi
