Police in Mangochi on Thursday November 30, 2023 deleted pictures in the phone belonging to Zodiak Broadcasting Station (ZBS) reporter Raphael Mlozoa.
The incident happened during the running battles between the police and some protesters who turned violent during the demonstrations that a grouping calling itself ‘Malawi First’ organised in the district.
According to Mlozoa, the officers specifically deleted pictures of the arrest they made on a violent man with albinism.
The officers confronted Mlozoa, forced him to open the phone gallery and deleted the pictures.
Mlozoa identified himself as a journalist and some of the officers recognised him as such, but they insisted on deleting the pictures.
MISA Malawi strongly condemns the deleting of the pictures in the journalist’s phone. What the officers did is an affront to media freedom and has a chilling effect on journalists. They also prevented the public from accessing accurate information about the demonstrations.
Taking pictures of demonstrations and in public spaces is not a crime in the laws of Malawi.
MISA Malawi calls on authorities at the Malawi Police Service to discipline officers who deleted pictures in Mlozoa’s phone.
Media contacts
MISA Malawi Chairperson Golden Matonga
Cell: +265 99 616 9705 or email goldenmatonga@gmail.com
MISA Malawi National Director Aubrey Chikungwa
Cell: +265 999 327 311 or email info@misamalawi.org
