(MISA/IFEX) – On Sunday 12 August 2001, Brian Ligomeka, a 29-year-old stringer for the South African-based “Africa Eye News Service”, was abducted by Young Democrats from the ruling United Democratic Front (UDF) party at Chileka Airport in Blantyre. The journalist was there covering the arrival of heads of state currently attending the 2001 Southern African […]
(MISA/IFEX) – On Sunday 12 August 2001, Brian Ligomeka, a 29-year-old stringer for the South African-based “Africa Eye News Service”, was abducted by Young Democrats from the ruling United Democratic Front (UDF) party at Chileka Airport in Blantyre. The journalist was there covering the arrival of heads of state currently attending the 2001 Southern African Development Community (SADC) summit in Malawi.
The seven youths, wearing official SADC security badges, approached Ligomeka and asked him to leave. They accused him of writing what they termed “stupid” stories against President Bakili Muluzi and the government in the weekly “Mirror” newspaper.
The “Mirror” is published by sacked former senior minister Brown Mpinganjira, who has since formed an opposition pressure group that is very critical of the Muluzi administration.
Ligomeka told MISA the abductors accused him of being a spy for Mpinganjira, even though he showed them an official SADC press accreditation card.
“As they severely beat me, they accused me of being a supporter of Mr. Mpinganjira’s National Democratic Alliance pressure group,” he said. “I showed them my identity card, showed them all my accreditation documents, but they kept beating me.”
“I am confused. I terribly fear for my life. I don’t know whether I should flee my country and stay in exile for some time or whether I should sacrifice my life for democracy and die in my own country,” said a visibly shaken Ligomeka.
He was rescued by a senior police officer who drove him to a nearby police station. No arrests have been made. Ligomeka was kept at the police station for three hours. According to the senior police officer, this was for his own safety.
A spokesman of the UDF denied that Ligomeka was beaten by the party youths.
“We are a peaceful party; we have never believed in violence. In fact, our president, Dr. Muluzi, has always been a peace advocate,” said Dumbo Lemani, presidential affairs minister.
The “Mirror”, for which Ligomeka writes, was previously a pro-government newspaper until its publisher, Mpinganjira, was sacked from the ruling party. It is currently one of the most fearless anti-government critics.
Ironically, Mozambican president Joaquim Chissano said SADC leaders view journalists as partners. “We have to find ways of improving this partnership,” he said on arrival at the summit, minutes before Ligomeka was beaten.