AFORD leader Chakufwa Chihana’s house, in the northern city of Mzuzu. At the press conference, Chihana challenged a decision by certain executive members to dismiss him from the party on allegations of poor governance and fraud. Mtika alleged that Chihana’s nephew Jeremiah Chihana ordered the beating, accusing the journalist of “reporting ill about [his] leader.” · ALERT Date: January 09, 2005 Persons/Institutions: Jolly Ntaba, Harry Chuma, Moffat Kondowe Violation: Censored President Bingu wa Mutharika has refused to allow two reporters and a camera operator nominated by Television Malawi (TVM) and the Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) to accompany him on a state visit to the Republic of China (Taiwan). Mutharika, who left Malawi on January 9, 2005, allegedly turned down the names of TVM reporter Jolly Ntaba, camera operator Harry Chuma and MBC chief reporter Moffat Kondowe. While MBC failed to replace Kondowe, TVM sent producer Waliko Makhala and camera operator Bwanali Makote at the president’s request. Makhala and Makote previously accompanied Mutharika as “personal guests” when he attended a landmine conference in Kenya in November 2004. MISA-Malawi (also known as Namisa) condemned the state interference in the media outlets’ editorial independence, describing it as “undemocratic.” The organisation urged Information Minister Ken Lipenga to advise the president on the impact of such interference. So This Is Democracy? 2005 -74- Media Institute of Southern Africa