Chakwera decries negative news reporting
President Dr. Lazarus Chakwera has faulted the media for putting the country in bad publicity and reporting rumours without cross checking with relevant authorities.
Dr. Chakwera observed on Sunday that negative news reporting and rumour mongering in the country’s media had potential to negatively affect national interests and taint the country’s image.
He was speaking during a press briefing at Kamuzu International Airport in Lilongwe upon his return from London, United Kingdom (UK) where he attended a Global Education Summit on invitation from UK Prime Minister, Boris Johnson and Kenya’s President, Uhuru Kenyata who co-hosted the event.
Dr. Chakwera strongly denied news reports that he appointed his daughter, Violet to a foreign mission in Belgium.
He challenged the media to verify with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to prove his innocence.
“You [media] should realise that you are the country’s online ambassadors. You should know that anything you report is regarded as gospel truth by the international community. I was surprised to note that rumours about my daughter’s purported appointment to Belgium were even picked up by BBC [British Broadcasting Corporation],” he said.
He said he was a dedicated protector of freedom of expression, nevertheless he urged the media and the public in general to exercise the freedom with responsibility to avoid infringing on others.
Dr. Chakwera said his trip to the UK was very fruitful as he secured various pledges from bilateral and multilateral partners.
Among others, Dr. Chakwera said the UK pledged 100, 000 Covid-19 vaccine doses to Malawi, apart from multilateral partners who pledged K4 billion support towards the country’s education sector from 2021 to 2025.
In his speech, Vice President, Dr Saulos Chilima congratulated the president for representing the country well at the global summit.
The Vice President also congratulated Dr. Chakwera for his impending Southern African Development Community (SADC) chairmanship.
Earlier on, Dr. Chakwera declared two days of national mourning for 21 people who died in a road traffic accident involving a freightliner and a Toyota Coaster along the M1 road in Ntcheu in the early hours of Sunday.
The 21 people, including 18 women and three children died on spot while eight others were seriously injured after the Toyota Coaster they were travelling in was hit from behind by a freightliner registration number LA 5591.
It is believed that all the passengers in the Toyota Coaster were returning to Chikhwawa after an exchange visit with a fellow women grouping at Chindoole Village, within Mlanda area in Ntcheu district.
After leading in a minute of silence in honour of the dead, Dr Chakwera said it was a tragic moment for the country to lose all such people in one road accident.
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Blame the media!?! Just look around Lilongwe, where is the leadership!?!! At least Bingu cleaned up the city in his first year, these guys just roam around the country. Tuk tuks, vendors, motorbikes running amok, roads falling apart, garbage everywhere, traffic is a mess, place is a disaster. Is there a mayor, city council, any leader?? Asleep at the wheel!!
With all due respect, which ones are negative news? That you appointed your daughter to Brussels? Ask your own PO Brian Banda. That you, in conjunction with the VP has appointed the VPs mother-in-law to be Ambassador to Zambia? Go to MoFA. That you went all the way to the UK to attend a virtual meeting? Ask the whole world. That you have failed to create 1,000,000 jobs as you promised? Talk to the VP. That you flopped big time at the HardTalk interview? Ask the BBC. That you took all your family to the UK? Ask the whole world.… Read more »
Bravo, Mr. President, for responding upon arrival. It is surprising how the news media feeds on unfounded information. Not only Local Malawian media houses but even the international media like BBC and the like. For argument’s sake, Malawians, if I am related to the President, even if I qualify, does it mean I cannot be appointed to serve my country? We need to stop this rubbish. The president has all the powers to appoint anyone based on qualification, even though those qualified are from the same family. We need to go over it, my friends.
Kuposa
Kumbwambwana
Too late to spin Mr President. Shame!
Zayambika. Blame media about fake news. Munthu angangodzuka ndikumapeka nkhani? Muyalukatu.
We fought the DPP because of its nepotism, regionalism, mohakoism, and all other “ISMS” that are dividing Malawi. Why your sons, daughters, cousins, and inlaws are deployed in foreign mession? Would you deny it that VP Chilima mother in law has not been deployed in foreign mission? You only denied about your daughter and our assumption is that other nepotisms are true because you never spoke about them. The corruption in Tonse Alliance is worse. It seems like once you guys descend to the top all you think is about your families and less interest about malawian people.
Sometimes the probing question technique is designed to guide you in addressing critical points that will benefit yourself as well as the audience. Usually in developed countries they employ journalists who will cover specific areas and will ask questions based on their subject of expertise. A politician will normally meet a qualified Political Sciences journalist. Duties of the media could be described as being a. Informative b. Educative c. Advisory d. Entertainment So it is very rare that you will come across a journalist whose objective is to demean or fool the respondent. An interview might take a different turn… Read more »
If he had not choose his daughter to the embassy why did his press officer said this? The president has just made a u turn on this due to public pressure and i regard him as a coward.
This has nothing to do with local media. If anything the blame should fell directly on your door step. Where is your Press Officer. He defended the appointment of Violet. Do not try to fool Malawian people. You wanted to test the reaction of Malawian people first. Now having realized that not even a single Malawian is accepting the appointing of Violet to Brussels, you have now decided to deny it. Well Done BBC! Your are our life support for our democray, Freedom of speech and survival of multiparty and survival of opposition Parties. Keep on watching on us BBC… Read more »
Very sad indeed. Along the M1 ROAD, let’s have strategic points where we must have full emergency rescue equipment. The ambulances are not enough it’s sad to note that sometimes people die because the first responders are helpless on site. We need cranes, cutting tools, trained rescue personnel etc..