The Center for Democracy and Economic Development Initiatives (CDEDI) would like to remind the Tonse Alliance Government under President Dr. Lazarus Chakwera that Malawi is no longer a one-party state which was characterised by rule of darkness, fear and death.

We are concerned with the detention and subsequent intimidation of Mr. Watipaso Mzungu who writes for a number of news outlets including Nyasatimes. According to our findings, Mr. Mzungu was detained simply because he wrote a story in which he quoted the CDEDI Executive Director, Mr. Sylvester Namiwa who described President Chakwera as a joker and a time waster due to his failure to honour his public promises, such as the announcement of a new cabinet. We look at the detention of Mr. Mzungu as a futile attempt by Dr. Chakwera’s leadership to instill fear in journalists in the country, a development that can easily be construed as a tactic to stifle media freedom and freedom of expression in Malawi.

Let the Inspector General (IG) for the Malawi Police Service (MPS) and President Chakwera know that Malawians will never be intimidated with such acts by the police, in a democratic state where everyone is supposed to enjoy freedom of expression.

It is for this reason that CDEDI is challenging government that Malawi will never slide back to dictatorship and that CDEDI and it’s leadership will never retreat or surrender.

We shall always endevour to safeguard our hard earned democracy which Malawi Congress Party (MCP) vehemently opposed in 1992!