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Malawi News agency boss might lose job for asking Mugabe’s retirement plans
By Lance Guma
09 May 2006
The Daily Times of Malawi reports that the acting Managing Editor of the Malawi News Agency (MANA) Don Napuwa is in the firing line for asking Robert Mugabe about the succession issue in Zimbabwe. Napuwa is said to have asked Mugabe the question at Kamuzu International Airport in Lilongwe on Saturday. The press conference was jointly addressed by Mugabe and Malawian President Bingu Wa Mutharika.
According to the Daily Times the press conference had to be stopped abruptly after Napuwa asked Mugabe to ‘explain how he would want his succession to be like after ruling Zimbabwe for 26 years, looking at the standoff between his country and the western world.’ Mugabe is reported to have attempted to answer the question but government officials, ‘moved in swiftly to end the press conference, fearing that the private media may take advantage and fire tougher questions.’
Only two questions from Malawi Broadcasting Corporation’s (MBC) Thom Khanje and Napuwa were entertained. The Daily Times alleges that a meeting took place on Monday to decide Napuwa’s fate. The Principal Secretary for Information Beaton Munthali is however said to have dismissed the allegations as untrue. Napuwa himself says he has only heard from the grapevine that there was a meeting to determine his future. Mugabe’s trip generated a lot of debate in Malawi as many quarters opposed the renaming of a new road in his name.
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