KALIATI HITS AT ‘ACTION GIRL’

BY PATRICK BOTHA

Minister of Information and Civic Education, Patricia Kaliati, has condemned the Weekend Times for publishing ‘Action Girl,’ popularly known as ‘Page 8.’

Kaliati said such publication is demeaning to women and that it makes young girls and women even more vulnerable.

She said this at the official launch of the Malawi Child Protection and Gender Media Network which was held at Cresta Hotel with support from Plan Malawi on February 17.

“Why pay a girl child to pose in the nude? What a shame? How would you feel to see your daughter or sister exposed like that?” asked an irate Kaliati, holding a copy of the publication.

The minister asked the journalists in attendance to fight and push for the removal of ‘Action Girl’ which she said encourages abusive tendencies in society.

Kaliati also hailed journalists for the initiative which goes a long way to expose abusive practices and act as a call for action on such matters. She also assured journalists of government’s support.

She also expressed her gratitude to Plan Malawi for their support in different government development endeavours.

On his part, Enock Chibwana, chairman for the network applauded Plan Malawi for the gesture.

“We appeal to government not to leave us alone. And Plan Malawi don’t leave us on the way.” Said Chibwana.

Regional Communications and Media Relations Manager  for Plan, Regis Nyamakanga said his organisation believes in the power of the media and asked journalists to create non-exploitive content and bring various issues of abuse to policy maker’s attention.

Commenting on the event, Kara Stevenson, a Canadian journalist working with Journalists for Human Rights (JHR) said she feels the launch is a big step for Malawi.

In attendance was the chairman for the Media Council of Malawi, Patrick Semphere, and Nsanje North Parliamentarian, honourable Viyazi.

REPORT GOOD THINGS ABOUT POLICE-MATINGA

BY: VIOLET CHAPONDA

New commissioner for the Northern Region Police Wilson R Matinga has asked the media to report positively towards the successes and achievements the Malawi Police is doing and not the negatives only.

The commissioner was speaking during a special meeting with media practitioners held on Friday evening at the senior officers’ mess.

Matinga said the media plays a vital role in helping the public understand their duties in combating crime as well as publicizing their exploits though in some cases the media has taken them unaware by exposing rotten stories among them.

“Let me urge members of the media to at least report positively towards our success and achievements since most often you tend to report the negatives and when the public read about these they feel insecure as a result creating a feeling of fear amongst them,” urged Matinga.

He stressed the fact that the media should not report badly about the police but rather make sure that their stories are balanced for the mutual benefit of both the police and the general public.

Asked whether he has pleasure on the closure of judicial, he expressed concern on the closure since their other criminals who have long enough waited to appear in court for judgments thereby creating congestion in the cells and lack of capacity to keep the suspects.

On corruption the commissioner said he shall not back anyone to have been involved in any corrupt acts and that he intends to strengthen high professional standards among the workers and to strictly observe Malawi Police Service code of conduct.

He added that the region has managed to reduce crime rate by 5.8% and recorded 6928 cases as compared to 7368 cases in 2010 through community policing.

“Let me take this opportunity to thank members of community for the support they are rendering to their police by passing information to police as it has greatly assisted us in apprehending some notorious criminals,” appreciated Matinga.

Regional Information Officer Mr Mkondesteni thanked the commissioner for inviting the media to such an important meeting and said there is good and vital relationship between the police and the media.

He said the creation of Public Relations Officer has helped the Media house to easily access information.

The meeting was initiated by the Northern Region Public Relations Officer Norah Chimwala with the aim of introducing the new commissioner to the media.