Don’t trust these ‘social media activists’: They are sellout carpers!
The enthralling aspect with journalism in this digital age is that its space, today, has opened to any person with a smartphone and, of course, a bundle. 
We no longer have to wait for Zodiak, or Times or MBC to tell us breaking news. In fact, you can’t even talk about waiting for daily newspaper a morning after.
We get much of both breaking news and news analysis on social media through any person who has a combination of three critical things: access to news source, a smartphone and a bundle.
To mean, anyone with access to the news source, has a smartphone and a bundle can be a ‘journalist’ who can break news and, also, analyze it using the digital space of social media.
To give you a practical aspect, let me give you a context of most of the key people that define social media influence in Malawi. They define social media influence because they are mostly followed and they are often posting something.
Onjezani Kenani and Charles Ulaya are both accountants but they are, with 24-hour ruthless streak of a journalist, always breaking news and analyzing it.
Idris Ali Nassah is a political scientist though with an experience of years in a newsroom—writing opinion and editing. Negracious ‘Lord Denning SC’ Austin is a land surveyor. Excess ‘Mikozi’ Chiligo is a marketer. Bob Chimkango is a lawyer.
Gerald ‘GCK Camera’ Kampanikiza is just a loyal member of Joyce Banda’s People’s Party (PP). Yamikani Kachingwe is a waiter at some restaurant in Cape Town. Gogo Gowoka is just a loyal member of Malawi Congress Party (MCP). Orama Namalomba is just a member of UTM.
From the sample given, it is evident that it’s only Idriss who, at least, has had some years in the business of news. Of course Kenani is a reputable write. The rest—negligible.
However, we would be lying to ourselves if we choose to ignore the impact the names given above have had in news generation, analysis and influence. The names above there have done so much in unearthing hidden dirt, analyzing and, of course, shaping public opinion. They deserve our applaud.
However, though such names have been influential here and there, I must underline here that most of them, if not all, need not be entirely trusted because they are errand boys and girls of serving interests of some masters somewhere.
I repeat: Most of them, if not all of them, are not pushing narratives in the best interest of the general public. There is always a master behind defining their narrative.
If you note, they don’t call themselves journalists; rather, ‘social media activists’ because, as it is the case with activists, they tow a line of the person pushing a certain interest somewhere.
This is why in listening to what they always post, don’t take it as gospel truth. These social media activists are obsolete sellouts and, without a word minced, absolute carpers—fault finders.
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Great article. Mwaiwala professor Danwood Chirwa ndi Ralph Kasambara.
Yes we have radio personalities like George Kasakula and Brian Banda complete misfits. The only thing they fund sensible in to demonise APM. Yet they see nothing with incecious appointments by Chakwra. They see nothing with journey ministers who are always on the road not that they are doing anything but claim.ing allowances. George and Brian were doing biding for state house position but Chakwera as family man has found fit to appoint family members. Now Chakwera says will make further appointments in 40 days and surely Brian and George have their chance thin
I would rather believe educated fellas you have listed in your article than to believe a cadet that wrote the article…nkhawa and jealous kuti your competitors have influence. kodi paja abwezi inuyo qualification yanu ndi chani?
I, too, am rather skeptical about the motivation behind this article. The author has made quite a serious attempt to impugn the reputation of the guys mentioned in the article, without offering any justification whatsoever. To me, Kenani comes across as a true patriot and very concerned about the state of affairs in the country. You can’t write such a piece about him without bothering to back up your claims. Idris makes insightful observations, and has a great choice of words. But I don’t trust him very much. This is why: He once wrote a nasty piece attacking late Ralph… Read more »
But we can’t get anything breaking n sensible,this is not the case in other countries because scribes are resourceful and alert,don’t be jelousy u have failed and nothing illegal
U haven’t grasped the essential message in Mike Fiko’s article. News from these so called social media influencers is, most times, unreliable and misleading. Social media commentators lack journalistic objectivity and analysis, e.g. that waiter in Cape Town, Yamikani Kachingwe.
Makes sense