Malawi’s head of Catholic Church blasts ‘disinformation’ MBC: Minister Tembenu says ‘sorry’
The head of Roman Catholic Church in Malawi, Archbishop Thomas Luke Msusa on Thursday lost his temper and blasted the tax-funded broadcaster, MBC for twisting his words to suit its political propaganda in favor of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP).
MBC has for years been criticized of operating as a propaganda media-outlet for the ruling political parties and government, departing from its entrusted objective of disseminating unbiased information to the public.
Speaking during the second-day session of the Public Affairs Committee (Pac) 5+1 All-Inclusive Stakeholders Conference in Blantyre, His Grace Msusa seemed enraged with how MBC portrayed him as President Peter Mutharika and the DPP’s sympathizer by sensationalizing and quoting him out of context.
While tempting to control his temper and emotions, His Grace Msusa warned that, if not controlled, the continued MBC propaganda could incite anarchy in the country.
“Using of what I said as if I agree with everything of what is happening; that is wrong. I don’t like what MBC has done to use what I said out of context,” said Msusa who sounded infuriated with MBC’s action.
The statement in context “we will support you” is the one Archbishop Msusa said when Pac had an audience with Mutharika last year.
Archbishop Msusa, who is regarded as a one of the pillars of integrity and faith in the country, has since warned that Malawians might one day rise to fight against such conduct displayed by MBC.
“One day the power of the gun shall not be feared. Am not a prophet but we should remember that one day the power of the gun will not be feared.”
He said: “I am angry.”
Leader of government delegation to the conference, Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs Samuel Tembenu apologized to Archbishop Msusa on behalf of MBC and government.
“I should apologize to the Archbishop. Please be informed that the complaint has been noted. As government will be able to correct our ways and do things in a right manner,” said Tembenu.
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Getrude, I know this is your feud name but still you should know that Bishop Msusa has high sense of humour than whoever your masters have. Am still waiting to hear what President will have to say on this, if at all he has the integrity he longs for but miles away to comprehend.
People like Getrude are the ones who kept lying to Kamuzu at the people are behind him while they are not.
The truth is that people are fed up with DPP. In 2014, they did not vote DPP to win, but the crooked DPP systematically rigged the elections. Lest we forget, there were numerous huge irregularities to come up with a winner and it necessitated to do a re-count of the ballots. The power-hungry and Mafia possessed DPP started torching ballot boxes. It happened that time, but not again.
Anthu akadzatopa, you will remember what the Bishop has said.
MBC shall never learn. DPP will sink together with MBC one day. Just look at Philip Business, reduced to a mere idiot of the ruling DPP. Shameless journalist. You never find peace.
Can Msusa tell Malawians which party used MBC to the benefit of all Malawians? Was Msusa outside Malawi when the MBC was being controlled by the ruling parties for the past 23 years? The problem with Malawians is that they take the Catholic bishops as the wisest and most feared type of men. The comments people are giving are as if MBC has insulted Jesus. Msusa is just a man like everybody in the eyes of God. Wearing a robe and a cap daily does not mean you are more closer to God than others. It is only God who looks inside the heart of any person not the outlook. We have evidence of the so called men of God having children in villages yet they do this while in the spiritual robe and the rosary around their necks. There is nothing different what MBC has done, doing it to Msusa or any Malawian of a different level. How many pastoral letters have been signed by the Catholic bishops including Msusa which has shaken the ruling parties from the time of UDF, DPP, PP and now DPP? These days pastoral letters are just like postcards, they don’t have any value in politics.
I cant wait for the day when power of a gun will not be feared, kayende basi ka demo pamenepa
Nthawi yamasika mabishop amazungulira mitu ndikuchuluka kwa zopereka zomwe nawonso amakapereka kuzibwenzi zawo. The church is NOT clean by any means. It is rotten just as good as CSOs, NGOs, Churches, Mosques, Political Parties, Chiefs, Judiciary, etc. Not even a single institution is clean.
Kodi ngati corruption-yo mukuiwonadi, why don’t you (ampingonu) assemble witnesses and bring to book those that are corrupt? And the ultimate beneficiary of corruption is the church itself in my view.
I am afraid if my chopereka is meant to subsidize church arrogance towards other institutions like this.
kugwila ntchito ku MBC is just as good as kugwila ntchito ku zimbudzi zokumba, MBC ilibe fungo labwino wailess yokalamba.
I watch other countries public TVs but you hadly see their presidents. Kodi iwowo samakonda mapresident awo. Koma MBC tv, iiiiih!! Just tune now, umpeza, chonsechotu wowinila 36%. Nanga akanawina ndi 50%??? Nyimbo ya MBC ndi yoswa basiiii. Koma Yoswa mumamudziwa? Tapota nanu. You are making more enemies than friends.
When u see and hear men of God start speaking against the evils the county is going through just know that time is ripe for action. Remember that whatever is agreed or condemned on earth God does likewise. I can foresee panic, disintegration, desperation, sorrow, fear, shame, grief engulfing our beloved our country.
“Owulula machimo ake adzapulumuka” koma machimo a MBC ndi DPP achuluka…
yes they always talk when things have gone beyond recovery, God bless MALAWI.
Congratulations Bishop for putting these guys on that whip. their job is to serve Malawi equally and fairly but what we see and hear is not in the public interest t all. MBC is serving the interest of government at the expence of the will and interest of the people. At the recent PAC meeting chiefs were not present for the first time. Had no input except going on air on this TV and start castigating those that are helping the country to go forward. What MBC must not forget is that the budget hasnt yet passed and if what Chakwera was proposing would in the end, translate, then thhe likelihood of MBC receiving K1.00 again, would happen.
To say sorry is the most honorable thing one can do when things go wrong. God bless you Samuel tembenu. But we shall be looking forward to seeing change in line with the apology.
Chipani chonse Cha DPP,wandering ndi Tembenu yekha basi,Ena onse mitu idajama kalekale.
It’s sad that our tax money is used for propaganda. It really hurts a lot.thanks Bishop for hitting the nail. No body, nothing, not even a bullet can stop people when they want to fight for change . You DPP guys, don’t think you are invincible because you are in power. Our voices are more lethal than the nuclear missiles that north Korea is launching. Why do you think so low as if you own this country. If people booted the powerful and respected Kamuzu out of power, who are you. Now we are in democracy why do you monopolize MBC as if we are still under one party rule or communism. Watch out, we are watching. No wonder MBC is still the worst TV even technically despite being the pioneering TV since instead of improving on qualify you spend much time doing propaganda. Mutisamale, sikale
These words are really from voiless poor people of Malawi through the Man of God as everything is going in wromg direction aa Malawi is gripoed by elements og Skull and bones which is number one satanic group originated from. YaleUniversity
ONE DAY POWER OF THE GUN WILL NOT BE FEARED
I look forward to the day when I will find MBC TV worth watching. To MBC, news happens only in Malawi. Even such big occurrences on the world stage are not worth covering – issues like Brexit, Mr. Trump’s stand on issues related to climate change, the terrorist activities taking place around the world, Mr. Trump’s withdrawal of aid to poor nations like Malawi etc. etc. If you find some of us watching MBC, know that it’s time for BBC Focus On Africa or Mwachande. Come on MBC! Give us a wider coverage of world events. Malawi is too small to be the only source of news and features for any TV station. Let viewers see what is happening beyond our borders as well.
well said, boss especially on the bbc focus on africa. i like your comment, it clearly shows that you are a well informed human being!!!
In Kenya, they are more civilized. To a great extent, Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC) is able to air out opposition view and yet KBC is a public broadcaster. What is wrong with the DPP in this country? THIS PARTY SHOULD FALL DOWN, DIE AND BE BURIED IN THE GRAVE…LIKE BABYLON..the great We are tired of being treated as second class citizens in our own mother land and yet we pay same taxes if not more than the average DPP member and Lhomwelists. What we have in DPP are not only boot-lickers but people who lick dirty “asses” of their bosses.
eee..mutilankhulitsa pambali
Very good your His Grace for telling them the truth. MBC has failed us.I wonder why MBC is given budget allocation while it does not serve the purpose it was established for. Daily you will see Dausi and so-called chiefs being paraded on the TV for issues which does not hold water at all. I wonder those chiefs who they represent because they have never asked their subjects in any matter concerning their welfare. Full of greedy pigs. We are in pain seeing our taxes being misused whilst a poor dedicated teacher in Marka, Nthalire, Ntaja and Phalombe is not getting his/her dues due to such greedy and evil minded people.
patriotic of nyasaland: And I quote; ‘One day the power of Gun shall not be feared’. Take this, Not only MBC but also cadets and all leadership taking Malawians for granted. Hope the warning has been heard loud & clear. Ecco it time after time to see if it means anything to YOU.
Probably the Archbishop said: “I am angry” ? That would have made more sense.
Ndimawamvera chisoni anthu ogwira ntchito ku MBC kuti zaka pafupifupi zaka 25 mu Democrancy akanagwira ntchito yoopsezedwa. We dont blame junior workers at MBC because you are being used by DPP gurus. Very unfortunate.
Why do you allow to be manipulated you stupid journalists? Zachikalekale. You are moving corpse. Mxiiiiiiiiiiii
“one day Power of the gun shall not be feared” is a very strong statement from the Arch Bishop Msusa. Something is wrong in our society
I fear MBC will kill Malawians by its propaganda!
we pay this institution,, but why is it run by DPP?
democracy entails accepting differing views for your own benefit.
by now the party could have been big in terms of support if it used other avenues to sell its manifesto.
mind Malawians are living in fear at the moment!
I support if money for MBC could be used to improve health services.
That’s the MBC of today. I watched the conference conducted by Party Leaders at crossroads few months ago, the message was very clear, and all media houses reported the new as uttered by leaders. But on MBC Gracian Chapita reported the opposite.
bravo msusa this must stop? we need to see some different things like €prayers devropment activts ,football and some educating programmez.
“One Day The Power of the Gun Will Not be Feared” (XX, 2017) in Blantyre. I like it. Sarafina Version: Guns versus miyala until the Boer surrendered.
I believe apolisi komwe muliko mwamva bwino bwino: Tsiku lina mphamvu ya mfuti siidzaninkha kanthu kwa anthu wambafe.
Shaa what a brave talk!!!!
The Fearless Samurai.
I think that this should mark the turning point for MBC. What these guys are doing is not only shameful but also a mockery of the hard won freedom, democracy and nationhood. They probably don’t know the history of this country – that people died for the sake of the freedom that they are enjoying today. Thinking that you can distort news and attack PAC and those holding a dissenting views wily nilly simply because you have guns to protect you and your masters is not only childish but also shortsightedness and not befitting respectable people who work there. History of this country is replete with events where the power of the gun or death did not count to Malawians. Read what happened in 1915, 1959 and 1992. Those propagandists at MBC must watch this space. In their life time they will see what the Bishop is prophesying. Akulu amati “galu wa mkota sakandila pachabe,” “wakutsina khutu ndi mnasi” and “chati delu chaopysa mlenje”. Chinua Achebe writes in Things Fall Apart: “When you see a frog jumping in broad daylight, know that something is after its life”. Who expected the whole bishop to mention a “gun” in public? Who?? Ndiye paja amati “Chakanika bakha, nkhuku singatole.” If the whole Bishop can nolonger take MBC’s behavior kindly, how about the rest of Malawians who are daily angered by chiefs, leaders of briefcase NGOs and unprincipled pastors who are paraded on the screen everyday to castigate this one or that one for no apparent reason?? DPP and MBC Management need to take the Bishop’s statement as a serious warning from the leader of the entire Catholic community in Malawi. Let DPP set up it own radio or television if they need publicity or visibility. Don’t use our taxes to prop up one party and yet Malawians opted for multiparty in 1993. Some of us agree with the Bishop. Its time for MBC Management to listen to the voice of reason. Give MBC back to the people as a public broadcaster not a partisan broadcaster.
Kent Y.G. Mphepo – Blantyre.
Boma ili ndilosamva, and will never change, MBC ikutengedwa ngati ya Chipani cha DPP, zowonadi tsiku lina anthu amenewa adzayambitsa nkhondo, amaonjeza kwambiri, nyimbo ikhale ya Yoswa basi, tatopa nazo izi!
Bravo Tembenu. You have shown integrity where professional politicians fail to do so.
Its high time that MBC should change its conduct. Its not good to put words in the mouths of men of God.
Archbishop, what you are saying is totally true. MBC is being used to their advantage. But as a Man of God dont be that angry. All are your flock. Losing temper and shouting at them will not solve anything. Embrace what Jesus Christ did. He prayed for whatever was going wrong to be right. Instead of prophesying that people will one day stand up and fight without fearing the gun, please pray for the stiff-necked to change their attitude towards the nation of MALAWI. Pray for them that they may be one and love one another. Some of them are your faithfuls. GOD BLESS MALAWI.
Ambuye a Bishop. U think you yrself are holy. Dont pretend kuti inu muli oyera ndiponso ukhoza pamaso pa ambuye. Nobody is holy and nobody will ever be holy. Inu machimo anu timawadziwa ndife zomwe mumachita ma line mwathumu timaona. Ana mbwembwembwe. Kodi kukhala chete mukuona ngati sitikukudziwani????????????? Dekhani dekhani Ambuye
Women like Gertrude lure priests deliberately. Shame.
@ Getrude the issue here is MBC has reported what Archi Bishop did not say period.
Bravo Tembenu ndi ochepa amavomera pagulu
Sizikugwirizana, mwasowa nkhani nanu!!
MBC is 100% embarrassment to a taxpayer because they do not give correct information at all, except weather forecast.
Anthu anayamba kale kudandaula za MBC,.
munthu wamulungu apa walusa ndithu, and i quote; “One day the power of the gun shall not be feared. Am not a prophet but we should remember that one day the power of the gun will not be feared.
Tembenu you are a wise cabinet minister but you joined a wrong party. To say sorry is a very wise thing a person with humanity can do when things go wrong.
MBC fools slapped in the face. We have no interest in this rotten broadcaster. Mbuzi!!!
What the Bishop has said is very true. One day the power of the gun will not be feared. It happened in 1992/1993. Perharps those currently at MBC and the current crop of ministers were either very young or MCP (Ntaba and Dausi) who voted for one party system and/or in exile/abroad (Goodall, Chaponda, Mutharika) hence they don’t understand what the Bishop has said. MBC propaganda especially Phillip Business ans Sumbuleta are extremely insinuating hatred among Malawians. In democracy, governments come governments go. Better be and learn to be professional in discharging your duties.
This is the beginning of trouble of dpp. They think being in power it means all are useless and only them appear to living bullshit. MBC has completely completely completely fucked up. It is unbelievable that the MBC can behave like that in democracy. Parading chiefs and pro govt civil society against opposition, PAC and civil society is worrisome. When Malawians are tired are tired we can not fear guns this will stop. Every is complaining and I don’t know Mr Tembenu you apologize because the archbishop has expressed its anger but you listen MBC every day why did you not apologize then. Very useless people where is Jeff wa Jeff and Ntaba here.
The Catholic Church has spoken. And Archbishop Msusa is the Church in Malawi. Takuthokozani Ambuye. Wakumva wamva.