MBC confirms suspension of reporter over public disapproval of fake news picture

Tax-funded Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) has confirmed that it has disciplined its  reporter Austin Kakande for damaging the reputation of the news organisation after the public  disapprove a false news picture on the Mzuzu dual carriage way project which it published.

MBC posted a caption story on its Facebook page  about the project’s progress by  instead used a photograph from West Cornwall in England that portrayed it as the 1.3 kilometre Mzuzu dual carriage way being constructed  by Strabag Construction Company.

The public disapproved the false new picture and  MBC has reacted by suspending the online services reporter Kakande who was responsible in posting the caption story.

MBC  director general Aubrey Sumbuleta confirmed the suspension of Kakande pending investigations.

“As a public broadcaster, the Malawi Broadcasting Corporation is expected  to maintain high standards of integrity and ethical conduct, a thing you have failed to uphold in this particular case,” reads a suspension letter signed by controller of administration and human resources Mabuchi Kapachika.

According to the letter , the online services reporter  also violated MBC’s terms and conditions service 2015 section 9.2.15.

Kakande declined to comment.