DPP top brass launch ‘Globe’ newspaper to spread propaganda message: Malawi VP Chilima marked for smear
The ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) top leadership have launched a propaganda tabloid, The Globe which will be a hub of smear for political competitors and government critics.
According to State House source, the newspaper which had its first issue on Monday is the brainchild of Minister of Labour and manpower development Henry Mussa, Minister of Local Government Kondwani Nankhumwa and DPP parliamentarian Noel Masangwi.
Masangwi and Nankhumwa previously had owned their propaganda publications which they all folded up.
But the new weekly paper which sells to around 5,000 people in the country will try to penetrate on the already volatile newspaper market by unmasking themselves with “neutral” dummy of their political alignment but the main objective is to attack Vice President Saulos Chilima so that President Peter Mutharika should not pick him again in 2019 elections as second-in-command a.
DPP political gurus sideline Chilima in the party and is regarded as rank outside. He is only given the position of ‘adviser’ like Jean Kalirani who was elected secretary general at the convention but was removed unceremoniously.
The first front page of the paper focused on what it claimed “infighting” in opposition Malawi Congress Party (MCP), saying the gulf between party leader Lazarous Chakwera and spokeswoman Jessie Kabwila is widening.
The paper’s editor said the Globe is “an exciting new project” for the DPP.
As its editor says, the Globe plainly hopes to influence a ‘some audience’ on politics without the serious bits – and without the journalism that informs a reading public.
Observers said news publications could still disseminate their opinions so long as it was clearly separate and labelled such, not news.
A media consultant said the newspaper looks doomed from its debut issue because of misjudgments over its journalistic content.
“No one wants a propaganda newspaper with little editorial investment behind it,” he said, adding “A paper or news brand that no one wants is worthless.”
Of course, readers and advertisers want quality and originality.
Malawi newspaper buying culture is dwindling with the growing internet penetration as there now many digital-only publications that include Nyasa Times, Malawi24, Malawi NewNow, Maravi Post, Malawi Punch, Malawi Voice, as well online sites of the print editions
The online-only papers have also been using social media platforms to reach out to many readers.
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Divide and rule tactics will never work. If you (opposition) are wise enough you would have realized that your wishes are like trying to build castles in the air.
By the way, the opposition has also news outlets e.g. Times Group, Zodiack, Nyasatimes, etc. This is not news at all. Find something else.
Certain elements in the opposition are bent at driving a wedge between Chilima and APM in the hope of weakening the DPP.My advice to the VP is never listen to these ditractors.The truth of the matter is DPP supporters all over Malawi (southern region inclusive) love you and APM.The Lomwes are not as tribalistic as the opposition would like to portray them.Let me just remind the opposition that the DPP has sailed through troubled waters before and emerged victorious.Malawi opposition you are too weak to sick the DPP boat
There’s a proverb which says” THE EVIL DEEDS MEN HIDE LIVE AFTER THEM”. I am not surprised at what is happening to Chilima. If he was wise enough he would have rejected the offer from dpp to partner Mr Ibu on the presidential ticket considering what dpp did to both Joyce Banda and Cassim Chilumpha. This is dpp for you man.
Please, do not waste your time politicking – muchedwa nazo kutukula mabanja anu. Inu muli nazo zanu Zodiak and Times – asiyeni anzanu nawonso akhale nazo zawo. Osagenda ku Polisi chamba chili m’thumba. Tiye nazoni
I certainly hope the country’s arbitration bodies seek the firm to lodge a bond or at least release names of responsible ppo behind it so that should the libel cases start to pile up; these chaps can be chased for every penny that the owe.
Malawi is bigger than this as to allow political parties to be vehicle to deny and rob ppo of their right to freedom! We are not Russia or China!