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AFORD leader Chakufwa Chihana’s house, in the northern city of Mzuzu. At the press conference,Chihana challenged a decision by certain executive members to dismiss him from theparty on allegations of poor governance and fraud.Mtika alleged that Chihana’s nephew Jeremiah Chihana ordered the beating, accusing thejournalist of “reporting ill about [his] leader.”· ALERTDate: January 09, 2005Persons/Institutions: Jolly Ntaba, Harry Chuma, Moffat KondoweViolation: CensoredPresident Bingu wa Mutharika has refused to allow two reporters and a camera operator nominatedby Television Malawi (TVM) and the Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) to accompanyhim on a state visit to the Republic of China (Taiwan).Mutharika, who left Malawi on January 9, 2005, allegedly turned down the names of TVMreporter Jolly Ntaba, camera operator Harry Chuma and MBC chief reporter Moffat Kondowe.While MBC failed to replace Kondowe, TVM sent producer Waliko Makhala and cameraoperator Bwanali Makote at the president’s request. Makhala and Makote previously accompaniedMutharika as “personal guests” when he attended a landmine conference in Kenya inNovember 2004.MISA-Malawi (also known as Namisa) condemned the state interference in the media outlets’editorial independence, describing it as “undemocratic.” The organisation urged InformationMinister Ken Lipenga to advise the president on the impact of such interference.So This Is Democracy? 2005-74-Media Institute of Southern Africa