Media manipulation alleged

The run-up to Malawi’s June 1999 elections was marked by serious manipulation of the media by the ruling United Democratic Front (UDF) of President Bakili Muluzi, the press freedom monitoring group Article 19 has alleged. According to Article 19, part of the disinformation campaign related to a so-called Voter Action Poll published in all government-owned and pro-UDF media last February claiming huge support for Maluzi. It also involved fabricated international news stories endorsing the ruling party, and reports in the government media alleging the opposition was planning armed resistance. The report by the press freedom group said its investigations indicated there were two disinformation teams, both of which were formed in 1999 prior to the June elections. The first was headed by Sam Mpasu, then minister of information, who is now the speaker of parliament. The other team, said the report, was made up of junior staff members at the Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) and TV Malawi. Said Article 19: “Mpasu’s group’s initial aim was to portray the government in a positive light, but also to put the opposition in a negative light.” Mpasu, however, told IRIN that Article 19’s allegations “carry no truth whatsoever”, saying he was shocked that the group could associate itself with “such a disgaceful report”. Article 19 also stated that evidence was fabricated that members of the opposition parties were planning to mount armed resistance if Muluzi and the UDF won the elections. More misinformation, Article 19 said, related to claims about voting patterns prior to the elections that were attributed to reputable international sources such as the ‘Economist’ magazine. “When an editor at the ‘Economist’ wrote to the Malawian high commissioner in London to deny reports that the magazine had endorsed Muluzi and the UDF, the government-owned ‘Mirror’ newspaper took the opportunity once again to misreport the ‘Economist’ in support of the government,” said Article 19. The report also argues that in covering the election campaign, the MBC only afforded Muluzi’s political rallies live broadcasts to the exclusion of politicians from other parties. “Mpasu told Article 19 that this was a matter of ‘Malawian culture’ into which outsiders should not interfere,” the report claimed. Article 19’s report comes as Malawians are awaiting the Supreme Court ruling on the opposition parties’ application to overturn Muluzi’s victory in the presidential elections and order a re-run. But Mpasu believes the opposition will lose the court battle. “It is incomprehensible that the opposition alliance challenges the validity of Muluzi’s victory but accepts the parliamentary result,” Mpasu said. He added that as both ballots were conducted at the same time, the possibility is remote that the ruling party could have rigged the presidential votes and left the parliamentary ballots untouched. The opposition alliance of the Malawi Congress Party (MCP) and the Alliance for Democracy (AFORD)won the first round in court in January when a judge ordered the electoral commission to produce voter materials for inspection by the opposition’s lawyers. Further argument by the lawyers of the opposition and the goverment is expected to be heard in May.