By: Thula Chisamba
The Malawi Police in Mzuzu have arrested two Journalists who were covering the Mzuzu Youth Association (MYA) demonstrations on Monday.
The Malawi Star reporter escaped the fate but saw two of his media colleagues being apprehended by the law enforcers at Katoto Secondary School ground where protesters gathered for demonstrations.
The Police went on to nab chairperson for the demonstration Sandra Kamanga and other eleven protesters
According to the Police, those arrested violated section 71 of the penal code, which criminalizes unlawful gathering.
However amid their gathering, Police who were in full force apprehended protesters and two Journalists on charges of unlawful gathering.
Before publishing this article, 13 others were yet to be released on a Police bail.
Speaking to this publication, Mzuzu Police Publicist Martine Bwanali confirmed the arrest but declined to comment further.
“What I know is that we have arrested people who were holding demonstrations unlawfully because their friends had already cancelled that,” said Bwanali.
The Malawi Star earlier reported that government bribed other members of the grouping who went further to cancel the demonstration without consulting their others.
“They were bribed by government officials and cancelled the demonstration without consulting us. In fact, those who cancelled the demos are not the youth if you can investigate,” Said James Chirwa, who followed the scandal.
Meanwhile, before publishing the article, chairpersons for Media council of Malawi and MISA Malawi chapter were not available for comment.
MYA staged the vigil pressurizing Peter Mutharika administration to address numerous social-political and economic challenges affecting the country.
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