Malawi soldiers block journos, TV Cameramen at Kamuzu Stadium
August 12, 2014
Yankho Msukwa - Nyasa Times 68 Comments
While it was all smiles for Bullets FC and their loyalists for lifting Carlsberg Cup after 2-0 win over rookies Zomba United on Sunday, most photojournalists and TV cameramen left Kamuzu stadium in an irked state after being blocked by Malawi Officers from getting to the VIP stage to capture presentation of medals to players.
The men: Soldiers at the Kamuzu Stadium who spiced the event and blocked accredited journalistsSoldiers in their muscle displays….Photo Jeromy KadewereSoldiers brought the trophy in style
Some, however, managed to take pictures closer to the VIP after they hustled with security detail comprising Stewarts, Police Officers and Malawi Army Officers, who were heavily present at the stadium.
After the final whistle, Malawi Army officers, clad in camouflage trousers and black Carlsberg branded T-shirts, constructed a human wall blocking all reporters from getting to the VIP.
Even Football Association of Malawi’s Competitions Manager Gomezyani Zakazaka was also blocked and almost ‘thrown away’ as he was trying to get the VIP and be part medal presentation ceremony. He was however allowed to proceed after renowned football lover Raphael Nasimba came to his rescue.
The development irked the reporters, and those with lower resolution cameras were reduced to mere spectators.
“So, the soldiers can block reporters from doing their work? Who engaged those soldiers? Was blocking accredited journalists from doing their work part of their job?
“I thought we had Stewarts and the police there? I thought the FAM competitions manager as a journalist himself needed to come to the rescue of his colleagues or he could have arranged that in good time to ensure that reporters were not blocked from doing their work,” wondered broadcaster Greyson Chapita.
When asked, one of the soldiers claimed that they were only following orders not to allow anybody to the VIP stage save for the players and their officials.
“We were only engaged to provide security at VIP and we had to follow orders,” he said.
A goal in half saw Bullets clinch the Carlsberg Cup.
The match was graced by the Minister of Sports, Grace Obama Chiumia, Mayors for Blantyre and Zomba cities Noel Chalamanda and Joana Ntaja, FAM President Walter Nyamilandu, among others.
Bullets got the ultimate K9 million prize plus the trophy while Zomba United got a K4 million for being runners-up.
