The arrest of investigative journalist, Vitus-Gregory Gondwe, continues to attract condemnations from different quarters more especially the human rights bodies.
The latest to express its great concern on the arrest, is the Malawi Human Rights Commission (MHRC), which has issued a statement signed by its chairperson, Scader Louice.
In the statement, MHRC has said it has instituted an investigation into how Gondwe was arrested, treated whilst in police custody, the circumstances leading to his release and the basis on which his laptops, computers and phones are still being held by the police.
The commission has further said it is closely monitoring the circumstances surrounding this case to guard against any unwarranted interference with the freedom of the press and the right to privacy.
In another statement, the Human Rights Defenders Coalition (HRDC) said it has learnt with great shock and serious concern the arrest and intimidation by police officers of the journalist.
Reads part of the statement: “The media plays an important role in providing effective channel for the flow of information between citizens, duty bearers and other stakeholders in the development process.
“Therefore, it is our view that any attack or harassment of journalists or media houses is not only a violation of a media’s freedom to seek and share information, but is also an infringement on the citizen’s democratic right to seek, receive and share information through their preferred media channels.”
On the other hand, Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) Malawi said what the police have done is a direct attack on media freedom as provided under Section 36 of the Malawi Constitution.
The media body further said it is unfortunate that we are retrogressing instead of defending our nascent democracy.
Gondwe is reported to have been detained by police in Blantyre over a story which he published on March 30 2022 exposing the payment which government made with zuneth sattar and the police wanted him to reveal the sources of his article.
