(NYASATIMES) Malawi refutes ‘Mugabe’s Web of power’ article
Malawi refutes ‘Mugabe’s Web of power’ article09 January, 2009 01:56:00
The Malawian Ambassador to Harare has denied that President Bingu wa Mutharika tried to prevent the Malawian media from writing any stories on and about Zimbabwe, as suggested in an article headlined Mugabe’s Web of power and corruption in The Zimbabwean newspaper of 4-10 December, 2008.
“Malawi promotes freedom of speech and prides itself to have one of the vibrant media fraternity in the Southern Africa region, with over 20 private owned radio stations and independent newspapers whose editorial policies are not dictated by the Government,” says a statement from Malawian Ambassador Benson Tembo.
The article mentions the President’s farm in Zimbabwe - Bineth.
“Indeed His Excellency Dr. Bingu wa Mutharika and the late Madam Ethel Mutharika bought the farm a long time ago, in the 1980’s, even before becoming President.
“It has been operating as a private entity with its own management that is not in any way connected to either Zimbabwe or Malawi Governments. The farm operates strictly as a private business and therefore, in no way could it have Zimbabwe’s Presidential Guards guarding it,” adds Tembo.
Referring to the point made in the article about Mutharika diverting 300,000 tons of maize to Zanu (PF) during the elections, the statement says: “It is common knowledge that between 2007/2008, the Government of Zimbabwe openly indicated that it was importing maize from several countries around the region that included Malawi.”
“In that agricultural season, Malawi had a surplus harvest and upon official request, it exported almost 400,000 metric tonnes of Maize to Zimbabwe. The National Food Reserve Agency (NFRA) of Malawi and the Grain Marketing Board (GMB) of Zimbabwe worked hand in hand in facilitating the transaction.”
Tembo said several media outlets had sprouted recently in Malawi, but some reporters “have not walked the corridors of schools and colleges of journalism and write what would attract readers’ attention, perhaps due to sheer ignorance of the practice or for the sake of sensationalizing their stories for quick sales, in the process defying all rules of the trade – thorough research, balance, fact and verification of fact, adherence to journalism code of conduct, ethics and fairness”.
He said the Embassy offered its services to anyone who may wish to obtain any clarification on any issues regarding Malawi, so that Zimbabweans may be given nothing but the truth.
Mutharika and Mugabe enjoy very good relationship.—The Zimbabwean
Labels: BINGU WA MUTHARIKA, ZIMBABWE
posted by MrK @ 8:19 PM
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