MISA-Malawi mourns Mutharika

Anthony Kasunda, chairperson of MISA-Malawi, said the whole media fraternity in the country joins the nation in mourning Mutharika.

"The news of his death has come as a shock to us as there were no reports that the late Mutharika was not feeling well," said Kasunda.

Kasunda also said MISA-Malawi extends its condolences to the first lady, Madam Callista Mutharika, the children and the entire bereaved family at this very difficult time.

Informing the nation

He also commends both local and international media for keeping Malawians informed about the status of Malawi's departed president at a time when government was not forthcoming with information.

"We appeal to those in authority and responsible for the funeral arrangements to ensure that the media is supplied with accurate information so that Malawians are kept informed of what is happening at every stage," he said.

He said it is the hope of the media fraternity as the fourth estate that constitutional sanity will prevail as the country goes through the transition period.

"We remain vigilant to provide our watchdog role for the benefit of democracy in the country," he said.

Establishing facts

Newly installed president Joyce Banda also said the media was not in the wrong to establish the truth about the death of president Mutharika as the government machinery was trying to hide the fact that he has died.

The death of Mutharika was announced by the international media while government spokesperson and Information and Civic education minister Patricia Kaliati dismissed it as false.

"We are the only people who can tell the truth about the health status of our president, not any foreign media," argued Kaliati.

Kaliati also attacked newspapers and private broadcasters that announced the death of president Mutharika based on the foreign reports, saying they had no right to take such a step when government had not announced anything.