Lawyer Theu Angers  Journalists, Lawyers

Private practice lawyer Bright Theu has been widely condemned by journalists and fellow lawyers for unjustifiably attacking Nation Publications Limited on his Facebook Page and without pointing to a particular story he was discomfortable with.

Theu posted yesterday, and to display his crookedness and ill motive, he did not disclose  that his anger was linked to a story The Nation published yesterday about his clients, a Blantyre-based couple of Pakistan origin, Chaudhry Azhar Mahmood and his wife Neelam, facing arrests over alleged fraud.

He recklessly and maliciously accused the newspaper that it reduced itself to pay-per-publication and it does not care about the journalistic duty to act in good faith and publish reliable.

Journalists have roundly accused Theu, who all the time take to social media to attack the media whenever journalits have written anything he feels is negative about his clients.

The journalists argue that a good lawyer fights for his clients in court and respond to media inquiries whenever approached, accusing Theu of trying to disclose what went wrong and what was the particular issue he was referring to.

A veteran investigative journalist, Gregory Gondwe, wrote on Theu’s Facebook Page in response that he always take sweeping statements about the media with a pinch of salt, particularly when they paint an entire profession with the same brush.

“We make mistakes, and unlike many other professions, our mistakes are made in the full glare of the public, where they are scrutinised, criticised and corrected. That visibility should not be mistaken for a lack of professionalism.

“The same standard should apply across professions. Lawyers, doctors, accountants and others also make errors, some with far-reaching consequences, but many of those mistakes occur behind closed doors, in chambers or boardrooms, beyond public scrutiny,” wrote Gondwe.

He said that should not justify branding an entire profession as unethical or incompetent.

“Equally, a well-meaning media institution with a long pedigree of serving the public interest and producing journalism of significant impact should not be summarily dismissed because of a single mistake or one bad day at work.

“We do not judge the entire legal profession by one poorly argued case or one errant lawyer; nor should we judge an entire newsroom by one publication,” Gondwe argued.

The seasoned journalist said institutions should be assessed on the totality of their record, their willingness to correct mistakes, and their overall contribution to society.

“Critique specific stories, journalists or media houses where there is evidence of wrongdoing, and we should all welcome that accountability. But reducing the entire Fourth Estate to a caricature because of isolated cases overlooks the many journalists who continue to uphold the principles of accuracy, fairness, balance and public interest, often at great personal risk,” Gondwe whipped.

He argued that constructive criticism strengthens journalism; and blanket condemnation only weakens one of the institutions that democracy depends on.

Another seasoned journalist of 20 years experience, Sellina NyaNkowani Kainja, who has also taught media related courses part-time at the University of Malawi, said it pains her when people casually attack the media, painting every journalist and every media house with the same brush.

“The media is not perfect, and neither are journalists. We deserve constructive criticism where we fall short. What we do not deserve are sweeping generalisations and patronising sentiments,” she reached on her Facebook Page.

Ken Ndanga, a veteran journalist, cum politician, censured Theu on his Facebook Page, advising him to tame his emotions and try

dualogue.

In the lawyers’ circle, we have information that his friends have also condemned Theu for his tendency of fighting for his clients on social media, some even wondering why he could not invest that time preparing cases for his clients.

“It is unfortunate you gave that blanket attack, not even pointing out the story you were referring to. It does not sound good when people realise you were referring to the story about your clients, Chaudhry and his wife.

“Go in court and fight for them, otherwise this approach is cheap, a waste of time, and unfair to a professinal media,” one lawyer advised.

A member of the public, posting on his Facebook Page, described Theu as a terrible lawyer and a cry baby who refuses to mature into a proper litigator of many years.

He said Theu gets distracted by minor things and in the process missing the bigger picture.

“Mr. Theu had capacity to advise his clients to demand retraction, correction, or indeed sue if he believed the coverage was unfair or malicious. He never did, instead he decided to paint the entire media with one brush. That is terrible, embarrassment and misguided,” he wrote.

Kekic Mbiyang’ambe reacted on Theu’s Facebook Page that he should remove the log in his eye before faulting others, arguing lawyers are the worsts criminals.

Theu is representing a controversial businessman Chaudhry and his wife, Neelam, who have secured a temporary legal relief after the Limbe Magistrate Court granted a stay order suspending warrants of arrest issued against them by the same court.

The stay order temporarily halts police action against the couple, who are facing a string of criminal allegations, including fraudulently obtaining Malawian citizenship, making false statements to public officers and misrepresenting diplomatic status.

Private prosecutors in the matter, have meanwhile, asked Director of Public Prosecutions to give consent to prosecute and to join the matter, which is set for this Monday.

Monday’s hearing is expected to determine whether the warrants should be permanently vacated, setting the stage for what is shaping up to be one of Malawi’s most closely watched legal battles.