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By Jones Kapatamoyo 20
February, 2009
Veteran journalist Chinyeke Tembo has been lured to join Television
Malawi (TVM) as Head of Special Assignments Desk, Nyasa Times has
learnt.
The journalist may have to quit his international assignment in
Somaliland to come back home and work “for the development of his
country.”
TVM Director General Bright Malopa is said to have phoned Chinyeke twice
in Hargeisa (Capital City of Somaliland) to discuss the possibility of
joining a team of young and energetic cadre of journalists expected to
steer the new editorial policy being put in place.
Having won his case of employment dismissal with the Ministry of
Information, through the Ombudsman’s determination, Chinyeke has his
services sought by Malopa at TVM, “where he will be more useful.”
Malopa, former deputy DG at MBC, wants to cleanse the television station
of tired and un-innovative reporters who have now become “part of the
furniture”.
An insider at TVM said Chinyeke’s name was “floating around” at TVM
although nobody knows when he is coming.
Some said he was being called to head the propaganda machinery at TVM to
help the ruling party’s campaign for the re-election of President Bingu
wa Mutharika.
“We don’t know what a special assignment desk is all about in the media.
We thought that post only exists in the Malawi Police Service,” lamented
an insider who claimed she was one of those expected to be asked to
leave.
Tembo and Malopa lived together in the UK and once planned to come back
to Malawi and set up a tabloid, to have been called the Malawi Talk, the
name of an e-forum the latter moderated from London.
When talked to, Chinyeke accepted having had such plans with Malopa.
Now Somaliland’s Media Advisor for HIV and AIDS Programs, Chinyeke
added: “I will be coming back because my contract here is only six
months, that’s it. It is an insult to me for people to think all I know
or specialize in is propaganda. It’s a pity that those joining TVM or
MBC now are being linked to the campaign, especially with the upcoming
general elections.”
Asked if it true that he would be heading a special assignments desk he
laughed: “Who said there isn’t such a desk? Those are the sort of people
that qualify for pruning.”
He disclosed that he would be job hunting when he comes back to Malawi.
Reminded that he had a job with the Ministry of Information following
the Ombudsman’s determination, Chinyeke said: “Oh, that!? In January,
they told me they will give me a desk soon. I don’t know how soon is
their soon. Maybe their soon is six months, I am still waiting for the
word soon to take root.”
Asked if he would accept a transfer offer to TVM, he said: “I would, if
I could.”
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