Maravi

Police summon Post news editor

Police summon Post news editor
Written by George Chellah
Thursday, July 02, 2009 4:32:03 PM

POLICE have summoned Post news editor Chansa Kabwela for interrogations at Lusaka division police headquarters today. This is according to a call-out dated July 1, 2009, bearing a date stamp from the deputy divisional criminal investigations officer, and delivered at The Post newspapers offices yesterday morning.
Kabwela is expected to be at Lusaka division police headquarters by 09:00 hours.

"Madam, I have to inform you that Chansa Kabwela said to be in your employment is required to attend interviews at Lusaka division 2nd Floor Room 32 police station on 2 July, 2009 for the purpose of interviews. She will not be detained longer than is absolutely necessary. I am madam, your obedient servant, signed officer in charge/deputy DCIO," read the call-out.

The police are acting on instructions from President Rupiah Banda, who last week during his press conference at State House called for the arrest of those allegedly distributing pictures of a woman in labour.

President Banda said The Post was a malicious newspaper, which had even gone to the extent of publishing 'pornography'.

"Just because you are morbid and peculiar you sent photographers to go and take pictures of your mother naked, shame on you! And I hope that there are laws in this country to stop the young men from taking pornographic. I hope those responsible for the law of this country will pursue this matter. Shame on you photographer who took the pictures of our mothers naked. I couldn't look at it, when I looked at it I threw it away and you wanted to be sending it round...it means that you are sick yourself and don't pretend to be worried about the people in the hospital," President Banda said.

"You are the same people who are saying the nurses should continue to go on strike, the doctors. Who is going to look after our sick? This is not fair for us to be subjected to trash and call it journalism. Wamene uyo mwana... that child who took that picture of the mother, I wish him good luck. You cannot go and take pictures of a woman who is my mother, all of us are from women, and send it round without shame. How do you think? I would be ashamed to show it even to another person."

At this point State House special assistant for press and public relations Dickson Jere interjected, forcing President Banda to respond: "Don't stop me, I want this to stop. In this country that's why I agree with the mothers whoever has come to introduce into our country journalism of showing naked pictures of mothers and children is a sick person and he should be watched and arrested if caught up with this. This is something unacceptable."

Jere then added: "I think most of you may not know the background where the President is talking about...it's that one newspaper has been distributing these pictures to different organisations showing our mothers giving birth at UTH. And some of the pictures have been sent to us and I think your guess is as good as mine, which that newspaper is."

According to sources within the police, the investigations on the labour pictures have been intensified following President Banda's directive.

"The investigations have continued and we hear there were even plans to go and search madam Kabwela's house to check if she has those pictures at home," the sources said.

The sources revealed that there were plans to include another charge of money laundering on Kabwela.

"They are trying to charge her with money laundering as well because they suspect that she was paid money by the photographer or a politician to publish those pictures in order to discredit the government," the source revealed.

"We hear there were even plans to screen her bank accounts because they suspect that the money from the politician must have been transferred using the bank. So they want to monitor the movement of money in her accounts with the banks"

On June 10, 2009, Kabwela wrote a letter to Vice-President George Kunda, copied to Secretary to the Cabinet Dr Joshua Kanganja, minister of health Kapembwa Simbao, Women for Change, Non-governmental Organisation Coordinating Council (NGOCC) and the Archbishop of Lusaka over the protracted strikes by health workers.

Kabwela stated: "I write you to bring to your attention images that we have difficulty publishing in our newspaper of the very desperate situation at our hospitals arising from the on-going strike. I am doing this in the hope that these pictures will move you and your colleagues to take quick action and bring to an end this strike. Enclosed are the very disturbing pictures from the University Teaching Hospital in Lusaka that have been brought to our newsroom."

Labels: CHANSA KABWELA, THE POST

posted by MrK @ 3:32 PM