Misa Malawi condemns threats to free speech

Media Institute of Southern Africa (Misa) Malawi Chapter has condemned the apparent lack of tolerance for free speech in the country.

In a statement issued yesterday, Misa Malawi has since appealed to President Peter Mutharika to distance his administration from developments that threaten democracy and tarnishing the image of his government.

Misa Malawi issued the statement in the wake of the arrest on Saturday of Patrick Semu, 19, an information and communications technology (ICT) student at Daeyang Luke University in Lilongwe for allegedly criticising Mutharika.

In the statement, Misa Malawi chairperson Thom Khanje said his organisation finds arresting and charging people for allegedly insulting the President as retrogressive and a threat to democracy.

Reads the Misa Malawi statement in part: “As an institution established to defend media freedom as well as freedom of expression among all citizens, Misa Malawi believes that this is uncalled for in modern and democratic Malawi where citizens have a right to freely express themselves as guaranteed under Section 35 of the Malawi Constitution, which the President swore to defend.

“Section 35 provides that ‘Every person shall have the right to freedom of expression.’ Criticising the President falls within the framework of this provision and should never warrant an arrest. People should not be arrested for merely exercising a constitutional right.”

The media rights advocacy group said criticising those in power is healthy for a is constitutionally obliged to tolerate and respect citizen’s views and opinions as this is also critical in building a healthy and vibrant society.

Misa Malawi has also emphasised its calls to repeal laws that are inconsistent with the democratic dispensation, stating that the offence of “conduct likely to cause breach of peace” often used to charge people who speak their minds against the President was archaic.

Semu, who was arrested in a minibus he was travelling in from town to Area 25, spent 36 hours in police custody for allegedly criticising Mutharika.

Initially, the minibus was stopped by police to allow the presidential motorcade pass when Mutharika was on his way to Daeyang Luke Hospital to lay a foundation stone for the Daeyang Luke University Teaching Hospital.

The student allegedly made the remarks to the effect that Mutharika was failing to run the affairs of government and that he did not tell Malawians the truth regarding the maize situation.

In September last year, 60-year-old Alinafe Paulo was fined K3 000 or in default serve three months imprisonment with hard labour (IHL) after being found guilty of insulting the President. n