BLANTYRE--Pres Joyce Banda has said never again would journalists be threatened when doing their job.
 
"Journalists must be free to do their job," she said during the launch of a fistula centre at Bwaila Hospital in the capital, Lilongwe, Thursday.

"Journalists must ask me any question without hoodlums ambushing them."
 
Banda, who was recounting successes of her 100 days in office, was apparently referring to incidents in her predecessor's regime where journalists were booed for asking "stupid questions".

Towards the end of his rule, supporters of Pres Bingu wa Mutharika became sensitive with the media, threatening those deemed critical with physical harm. At one point journalists had to be shielded by armed police at an airport press conference.
 
When she assumed office on April 7 following the sudden death of Mutharika two days earlier, Pres Banda advised her new Information minister Moses Kumkuyu "not to waste time praising me daily on TV".
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©2012 The Maravi Post. Reproduction authorised, with usual acknowledgment.