Daily Times sensationalised on ‘Mutharika lied’ headline, says Economists Assoc of Malawi

Economics Association of Malawi (Ecama) has accused Daily Times newspaper of sensationalising their headline when it reported that “Mutharika lied on economy” citing the association’s president Henry Kachaje.

In a statement made available to Nyasa Times on Sunday, June 21, 2015 the association said the headline of the newspaper did not reflect the contents of the actual article, let alone the contents of the presentation made by the ECAMA president, Kachaje calling it “strange and unprofessional.”

Kachaje was quoted as saying Mutharika’s ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) has also not lived up to its set goals within the year.

But in the statement signed by Kachaje, his deputy Dr Fanuel Bokosi and secretary general Davie Lockie, Ecama explains that its president’s presentation never stated nor implied that the DPP had failed to live up to its goals within the year “as it is common knowledge that the party nor the government had committed to fulfil all its manifesto aspirations within a year. “

Ecama explained that the presentation, which was made as a “thought-provoking address” was done in the spirit of guiding a discussion to assess the economic progress and future aspirations of the nation.

“ECAMA wishes to inform the editorial team of the Daily Times and the public at large that the thrust of the presentation was to reflect on the past and draw lessons for the future implementation of our economic aspirations. At no point in the presentation did the presenter disagree with the economic facts that the Head of State presented in his address to the nation,” reads the statement.

The body said Kachaje’s presentation ended with a challenge and a call to all Malawians to “unite like ants in self-dependency to search for our solutions within ourselves rather than over-depending on aid.”

Ecama further clarified that the spirit of the presentation agrees with government’s policy of focusing on creating a conducive environment to attract both local and foreign direct investment as led by President Mutharika.

The economists accused the Daily Times newspaper of being “unprofessional” for labelling Kachaje’s presentation and “misinform the public” that ECAMA said the President lied.