Malawi: Police Detain And Charge Journalist For Online Article She Did Not Write – CFWIJ Calls For Charges To Be Dropped
Location: Malawi, Lilongwe
Date: February 9, 2023
Journalist Dorica Mtenje detained and charged for a Maravi Post article criticizing Director of National Intelligence Service. Although she works for the online outlet, Mtenje says she did not write the article. If convicted, she faces up to three years in prison. The Coalition For Women In Journalism calls for defamation and cyber-related charges against Mtenje to be dropped immediately. Cybersecurity laws should not be used to harass online publications and target journalists.
On February 8, Dorica Mtenje was contacted by police and told to visit the police station in Malawi’s capital, Lilongwe. She arrived at the station the next day and was detained for twelve hours. She was accused of authoring a “fake news” story on Maravi Post’s website that criticized National Intelligence Service Director Dokani Ngwira. The article was published without a byline.
Mtenje told CPJ, “I asked the officer why they summoned me after showing me the story I didn’t even write, but I was told they suspect that me and my boss could have written it.”. Police also summoned the website’s county director Lloyd M’bwana for questioning, but he refused to comply without receiving an official summons.
During her detention, police confiscated Mtenje’s phone for three hours. Despite there being no evidence that Mtenje wrote the article, police have charged her with defamation and offensive communication. If found guilty she faces fines and up to three years in prison.
According to Malawi’s Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) Chairperson Teresa Ndanga, the police spokesperson said that journalists connected to Maravi Post were “invited” to their station as part of an investigation into alleged “fake story” which contravenes the Electronic Transactions and Cyber Security Act. Police were acting on a complaint made by the National Intelligence Service Director.
The MISA Chairperson denounced the detention and called for charges brought against Mtenje to be dropped. She also stated that, “MISA Malawi has been advocating for civil remedies in issues of defamation as opposed to criminal defamation remedies that the country is following.” Political influence and cybersecurity laws restrict journalistic freedom in Malawi, according to RSF. Insulting the president is still punishable by imprisonment, as is posting “offensive” messages under the 2016 Cybersecurity Act.
The Coalition For Women In Journalism is concerned about police targeting Mtenje and charging her for an article she did not write. Malawi police and intelligence services are abusing their power by investigating media critical of their actions. We call on National Intelligence Service Director Dokani Ngwira to withdraw his complaint against Maravi Post journalists. All charges against Mtenje should be dropped immediately.
The Coalition For Women In Journalism is a global organization of support for women journalists. The CFWIJ pioneered mentorship for mid-career women journalists across several countries around the world and is the first organization to focus on the status of free press for women journalists. We thoroughly document cases of any form of abuse against women in any part of the globe. Our system of individuals and organizations brings together the experience and mentorship necessary to help female career journalists navigate the industry. Our goal is to help develop a strong mechanism where women journalists can work safely and thrive.
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