Gagging! Malawi Police summons reporter Chimjeka over ‘ stories’
Malawi Police in administrative capital Lilongwe on Wednesday summoned award winning Nations Publications Limited (NPL) reporter Rabecca Chimjeka reportedly over some stories she has been doing pertaining to cashgate and widespread timber business involving some Cabinet Ministers.
Chimjeka, a former Nyasa Times senior investigative reporter, was summoned to Central Region Police Headquarters in Area 3, according to inside sources.
“She was summoned this morning, on issues to do with cashgate. Some individuals are restless with her aggressive reporting on the matter.
“It is believed the police just wanted to silence her by intimidation. Rabecca was visibly shocked; but reading in between the lines, I could tell that she was indirectly told off the case as it seems things were going to expose some real big fish out there,” said the source privy to the development.
There was no immediate comment from the journalist while her Lilongwe Bureau Chief Sam Chunga, who apparently accompanied her to the Police, could neither deny nor confirm the development.
Chunga declined to comment on the matter when contacted on Wednesday .
National Police spokesperson Rhoda Manjolo, who is currently in Blantyre, expressed ignorance of the development.
“I don’t know anything, in fact am still in Blantyre and I haven’t received any update or communication,” said Manjolo.
Rabecca recently reported on timber sales involving some Cabinet Ministers, a development that is said not to have not gone down well with some prominent figures, who alleged to have threatened to deal with her, according to sources, who asked for anonymity.
BigMan, what you are talking is not compatible with what the police are now saying about the reasons for summoning Rebecca. For you any journalism critical of this govt is flawed and unprofessional. Police should divorce itself from political influence and interference. These dpp people are killers or intended to kill this lady but they couldn’t afford another bad publicity following the murder of Issa. For that reason they told the police to warn this lady to stop the investigations. If they have nothing to hide or if this lady’s investigations are not true, why don’t these dpp gurus come… Read more »
Can Insppector General Kachama please stop this nonsense. We do not want Rebecca to end up the same way as Chasowa through staged accidents. I do not think the police are doing this on their own. This must be on instructions from the Cashgate addicted DPP Gurus. APM must know that development parteners are folowing up these slips in good governance and their reluctance to assist Malawi grows day by day. By the way, do you think you will succeed in muzzling the media? Good luck!
Please keep up the good work Rebecca. Malawians strongly support you all the way.
Atolankhani miseche basi nayeniameneyu
Beki asakupusise
Kodi inu a DPP mupha anthu angati?
Rebecca anali ma hope anga awa. koma kupupuluma.
To me who wat DPP is composed of is strange to see dis happening: brutal killings and it has already started, kuopseza atolankhani, kugula atolankhani ndi ma MP omwe etc same old DPP
Peter will not intervene because its him and his people like Ben Phiri who are involved in the stealing of tax payers money.
Federalism will sort you out!!!
Federal government is the answer to all these bull sh*t!!!!
I vote federalism!!