28 May 2017 THREATENED Mutharika calls the media ‘corrupt’ President Peter Mutharika on Sunday, 28 May, alleged that the media in Malawi is corrupt as stories are published after the writers have been bribed. In reaction to the allegations, the Media and Communications Committee of Parliament has asked President Peter Mutharika to produce evidence that the Malawi media is corrupt. Media and Communications Committee chairperson Sam Kawale is quoted in the Daily Times issue of Tuesday, 30 May, as saying the President should come out in the open and prove to Malawians that the local media was corrupt. Kawale said the President’s remarks could mislead Malawians who may lose trust in the local media. 17 July 2017 ASSAULTED Prison wardens assault journalists Malawi prison wardens on Monday, 17 July 2017 assaulted MBC journalists for covering an ongoing strike by the prison warders. Prison warders at Maula in Lilongwe manhandled reporter Patrick Dambula and cameraman Hastings Khombo who had gone to the prison to cover the strike. In an interview with MISA Malawi Dambula said that they failed to do their story because of the hostile atmosphere at the prison. 20 July 2017 CENSORED Journalists barred from covering Chaponda case Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) supporters insulted and barred journalists who wanted to cover the court case involving Minister of Agriculture and Food Security George Chaponda when he appeared for his bail application before the Blantyre Magistrates Court in Blantyre on Thursday, 21 July 2017. Chaponda is accused of abuse of office in the procurement of maize from Zambia. Chaponda, who is ruling DPP vice president for the south, was arrested by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Wednesday, 19 July 2017. 22 August 2017 CENSORED Journalists barred from covering Public Sector Reforms conference The Public Service Reforms Management Unit (PSRMU) in the office of the President and Cabinet on Tuesday, 22 August, barred journalists from covering a conference on the implementation of the public sector reforms. An official from PSRMU ordered journalists out of a meeting that was taking place at Sunbird Capital Hotel in Lilongwe. The Nation Newspaper on 23 August 2017 reported that the unit’s chief director Seodi White had also refused to grant The Nation Newspaper an interview to clarify a number of issues White had raised in her presentation during the conference arguing that the Nation Newspaper was bent on having her fired. 21 September 2017 CENSORED Journalists barred from covering council meetings The Public Service Reforms Management Unit (PSRMU) in the office of the President and Cabinet on Tuesday, 22 August, barred journalists from cover