Cedep petitions UN on media freedoms

Centre for the Development of People (Cedep) has petitioned the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) expressing concern over Malawi Government’s attempts to suppress media freedom.

Cedep has taken the step in the wake of recent government actions through Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (Macra) to exerted pressure on different independent media houses to have certain programmes and columns removed from their schedules.

“As you might recall, in September this year, we sent to your office different issues on human rights violations in Malawi. Among the issues raised was the suppression of press and media freedom by the government through the Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority.

“The issues of suppression of press and media freedom have resurfaced in Malawi and all caution has been thrown to the wind in as far as safeguarding press and media freedom is concerned,” reads part of the petition signed by Cedep executive director Gift Trapence. n