Expression
On 15th December 2025, during the court appearance of senior Malawi Congress Party (MCP) leaders, including Secretary General Hon. Richard Chimwendo Banda and party spokesperson Dr. Jessie Kabwila, journalists covering the proceedings in Lilongwe were physically attacked. Zodiak Broadcasting Station (ZBS) reporter Kenphord Mdima and cameraman Aubrey Kuyere were assaulted while livestreaming the arrival of the arrested leaders. They were forced to cut short their broadcast and seek safety inside the courtroom as hostile individuals targeted them, disrupting coverage and threatening their security.
TV Islam reporter Aspolo Mousah was also attacked by suspected MCP supporters. According to the Maravi Post, tensions at the court escalated as party cadres confronted journalists. Mousah was warned to remove his media jacket and secure his equipment, but he was soon assaulted, his bag briefly taken, and beaten by multiple assailants before police intervened. He sustained physical injuries and was left emotionally shaken, struggling to make his way home after the incident.
MISA Malawi condemned the attacks, stressing that the Constitution guarantees freedoms of opinion, expression, the press, information, and assembly. It called for accountability for anyone who violates these rights for political, business, or personal gain.