MBC suspends 4 journalists over ‘late’ Peter Mutharika gaffe
Taxpayer-funded Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) on Friday moved quickly to send on suspension four journalists for their role in a story that erroneously described the incumbent Malawi President as ‘Late Professor Peter Mutharika.’
The report, that had gone viral on Thursday night was done by MBC’s Lilongwe-based reporter Mwai Mtumodzi when he was rounding- up the the official visit of the Tanzania President John Magufuli’s visit to Malawi where inside the report, the journalist erroneously described the statue of former late President Bingu wa Mutharika as that belonging to ‘the late Professor Peter Mutharika’
The two names have been confusing a lot of people as the two brothers were both Professors and both also became Malawi’s Presidents.
Those that have gone home include the author of the news report Mwai Mtumodzi, Chief News Editor Waliko Makhala, News Producer Austin Fukula and Assistant News Producer Wesyslas Chirwa.
The four according to suspension letters, which Nyasa Times has seen, are being accused in various was for allowing such kind of a report to find itself on air.
According to one of the letters, dated 25th April, 2019, signed by MBC’s Director of Administration Gift Nyambalo , MBC writes that: “Management has noted with deep concern that the presidential story report that you approved for airing on the television channel on Thursday 25th April, 2019 had a very serious factual error.”
The letter further said:“We find the report to be most unprofessional and it shows carelessness on your part for allowing such kind of a report to go on air undetected.”
It further said that consequently the recipient was now being suspended from duty with immediate effect for incompetence but on full pay as the matter was being investigated.
The suspension of the 4 MBC employees comes barely a few days after the ruling DPP’s presidential running mate Everton Chimulirenji also described the ‘Late Professor Mutharika’ instead of the late Bingu wa Mutharika.
Former presidential advisor on the youth Vuwa Kaunda also made a similar mistake last week in Nkhatabay.
The running mate made this mistake at Likoma Island when he went there to conduct some election campaign.
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Za zii. Though inaccurate, I wouldn’t stay chinzukwa APM is alive. You might as well have a coffin running the country
Stop being sympathetic to stupidly overzealous and unprofessional journalists. They deserve the consequences. Look ,where is Rashid? Chipangula? Madonzelo?
Any journalist of repute should be able to realise such stupidity doesn’t last.
Let them face the music!!!
iwe sumbuleta , mmaso mwako wamva wasowa zochita?osamchotsa chimulirenji uja pa u runningmate bwanji?iyeyo sananene kuti pitala anafa? ugalu bwako
choka iwe sumbuleta mmaso mwako
Anakachotsa onse kuphatikizapo Vuwa ndi Chimuli…
Why only MBC workers not Vuwa and Chim?
I SUPPORT THAT SUSPENSION BUT PLEASE BE FAIR ENOUGH TO START SUSPENDING CHIMULIRENJI AND VUWA BEFORE MBC STAFF BECAUSE I DON’T SEE THE ONE SACRED OR
PLEASE SCHOOL ME MORE.
That’s what you get for monopolising the tax payers MBC.
That’s the fruits of making APM popular. All the reporters blood and brain at MBC have been infiltrated with APM.
That’s your own making. Do not blame them.
More confusion. Dzanja lalemba.
Kwaaaachaaaaa! Chakwera Boma! choyambilira.. chachiwili: nanga Overton Chulukenji ndi Chifuwa Kaunda, ngosagwilika huh?
Nanga mwiniwake ananenanyo mumutani?
Musaiwale anayamba ku blander ndi Simon Vuwa kaunda and Now ndi Everton Chimulilenji
Muwatani amenewo
Even late Bingu anablander po pansonkhano ananenapo UDF woyee kawiri konse instead of DPP
Mwangodanana nawo zina abale anuwa
Things fall apart. Just so many negative things happening in DPP. Koma paja blame everything on Chilima ndi Chakwera. If DPP manage yo negotiate this corner opposition yonsemmadzi. Ine ndiye nzangomwa tameki amagundwani amenewa akawina