Times newspaper issues front page apology: Analyst says opportunity to re-examine role of youth in Malawi politics

February 8, 2018 Wanga Gwede- Nyasa Times 29 Comments

Malawi’s flagship newspaper, the Daily Times, has printed an apology  over the photo caption story, which depicted the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) youth who are painting their faces and bodies in party colours and main opposition Malawi Congress Party (MCP) youth in decent berets in revolutionary red.

Kasakula: We apologise
Times ‘sory’ for spot the difference photos

The publication of the photo caption story titled “Sport the difference between the two groups”  caused widespread revulsion on social media with the majority of the comments accusing the publication for practicing partisan politics.

On Thursday, the newspaper  in light of the loathings, offered apologies on its front page, under the headline “We apologise.”

Editor-In-Chief of Times Group, George Kasakula said the  media giant  made a terrible mistake for the photographs, saying they violated the company’s editorial policy which says “we are an independent  non-partisan media group, and not a mouthpiece of any political party or lobby group to be used for campaign.”

Kasakula conceded that the photos did not relect their editorial policy hence “apologising to the public.”

He said the paper has  rigorous gate-keeping process but that there was breakdown which he said the company is investigating which “disciplinary measures will be taken against those responsible for such laxity.”

Kasakula said  Times Group which also publishes other titles Malawi News and Sunday Times has also Times Television and Times Radio, will move on to give  “nothing but independent and non-partisan content”.

Meanwhile,  a local socio-political commentator has described the publication of the photos as a blessing in disguise in as far as the re-examination of the role of the youths in Malawi politics is concerned.

In an emailed response to Nyasa Times over story a Lilongwe-based social commentator Makhumbo Munthali, who is also the former National Secretary of the Ethics, Peace and Justice Commission (EPJC) of Evangelical Association of Malawi (EAM), said that while it was a fact that the paper had acted in a partisan and unprofessional manner “the whole saga and its subsequent reactions should be viewed as a blessing in disguise in as far as the conversation on the role of the youth in politics is concerned”.

Said Munthali: “I share the concerns expressed by various stakeholders on the unfair coverage of the photo caption. You don’t need to be a political analyst to see that such a photo caption does not provide a comprehensive picture on how the two political parties (DPP and MCP) treat or perceive the role of the youths in their party. A plethora of evidence suggests that both DPP and MCP have been culprits of youth exploitation in political participation, that is, if the standard used by Daily Times is anything to go by.”

Nonethelses,  Munthali said looking at the broader picture the newspaper photo caption and the subsequent public reactions should on the other hand serve as a critical juncture for all Malawians including political parties to reexamine the role of the youths in politics.

“In short, while it is important for us to remain steadfast in condemning the Times Group for such unbalanced story favoring MCP, we should not forget holding the leadership of our various political parties in Malawi accountable on the role of the youths in their parties in readiness of 2019 Tripartite elections .”

Munthali further observed that while the intent of multiparty democracy was to see young people taking active part in Malawi politics, the reality on the ground proves the contrary.

He pointed out that contrary to the aspirations of African Union’s Agenda 2063 and its first 10 year implementation plan (2014-2023) and the various national policies promoting youth’s participation in politics, it is apparent that young people in Malawi have been reduced to dancers or praise singers during political rallies and in some cases used as vessels of terror against political opponents.

“While some few youths have managed to penetrate in the political parties’ hierarchy by taking up challenging positions, this has often been due to their personal initiative rather than the parties deliberate policies, strategies or mechanisms to facilitate their ascendancy to those positions. This is regrettable”, said Munthali, who also once served as the National Advocacy Coordinator for Malawi’s leading human rights organization Centre for Human Rights and Rehabilitation (CHRR).

Follow and Subscribe Nyasa TV :
Follow us in Twitter

29 replies on “Times newspaper issues front page apology: Analyst says opportunity to re-examine role of youth in Malawi politics”

  4. Those of you criticising Times for what it did are idiots. you have never opened your mouth to accuse MBC for abusing its power. Times is a private media, but MBC is a public media. Why do you allow it to take sides. Dausi has just told you that they have got video clips of MCP which they will show the nation.

  5. Though times has apologised, we have already spotted the difference and this picture will never go away. These people really went to school, they know about agenda setting theory .

  6. It’s good that the paper has apologized but this is not the only apology people are waiting for. There are so many apologies the paper has to offer. For example the same paper told Malawians that K9.5 billion was stolen in the maize transaction involving ADMARC. It would appear no money was lost, Brian Banda was suspended for minor offenses. we expect Kasakula to face the same treatment. He ought to have noted that the publication was partisan before printing.
    We are also expecting Mkaka to complain to the regulator.

  7. Apologies for saying the truth? Kasakula knows that Government under DPP is the big customer of this paper. Most of government offices buy this paper as well as advertising in it. If the DPP as the party in power thinks to stop government from doing any business with Times Group it will be mayiwaweeee. Kasakula akudziwa sikuti wapusa kupepesaku ayi. Only that Kasakula was stupid in blaming DPP a thing which every party in Malawi has done when in power. When you are a fanatic you do everything to show your love on it. Even in football people do it in the whole world. Kodi mukufuna ma picture a MCP atuluke? Basi inu a boma musamufinye ameneyo angaone zomwe anaona Brian Banda chifukwa cha ukape. Amaona ngati akusangalatsa bwana wosadziwa kuti akuwononga zinthu. Bwana womwewo amuuza kuti upepese kwa customer wamkulu ngati ukufunabe ntchito. Mukuwona ngati wapepesa kufuna kwake?

  9. ku pepesa kuli apo….nkhani ikuti spot the difference..lol……besides that Mutharika Broadcasting Cooperation nde izitukwana anthu eti…mxiii

  10. I join my brother Kingsley is saluting George Kasakula. When a mistake has been made, be human enough to own up to it and apologize for a better society. This notwithstanding, I wonder why MBC TV and Radio as well as some Radio in Area 3 in Lilongwe that are DEEPLY PARTISAN are not accused of the same. Let us be fair and point fingers where this is necessary to correct.

    Once again, I salute George and the Times Group Management for making an apology on facts that depict the truth between the two parties regarding the YOUTH IN MALAWI.

  11. George, I cannot hide my admiration at your manner of handling the matter. You haven’t shirked from confronting the ‘failure’ head on. It does not happen often. You have deserved for your institution more respect, George. This is what 21st Century journalism should do. Keep it up!

    1. I disagree. George authorized the publication. He did it purposely. Read all articles authored by him. They display partisan politics. There is nothing you can trace in them that could demonstrate professionalism. His apology is hypocrisy at its highest level. If I were him, I would have resigned as many civilised guys do.

  13. Partisan, how? One picture has MCP members while the other has DPP members. Does times enroll members.

    You people are the thinking otherwise, but these are true members of the parties. If DPP won its because of these guys and DPP should not disown them. MCP lost because of berets, so what.

  14. Palibe chifukwa chopepetsera apa. Chabwino poti mukupanga business a Times. Koma apepetsa kangati iwo za MBC propaganda machine. MCP members are not happy with MBC. We all pay tax funding MBC so asiye kulira a DPP. Zimawawa.

      1. Chintheche who are you? What businesses do you run that advertise daily in the Daily Times and Malawi News? Your reasoning smacks of bullshit like Mchacha’s.

  15. Why dont the same people condemn MBC partisan coverage of news? Is what MBC preaching rightful. Or Malawians have accepted that this public ‘broadcaster’ is meant for rulling party exploitation?

  17. Bola daily times nanga MBC mpaka kusowetsa drone nkumamanizira MCP zautsiru propaganda yosagwira imeneyo. AMalawi panopa adapenya ndithu musakawa ndimavuto.

    1. I am over the moon over this matter. MBC should know that all are Malawians. Sadly you are trying tooth and nail to divide Malawians along party affiliation. To MBC those in MCP are not Malawians but only those in DPP. Muganize bwino Malawi ndi dziko labata ndi mtendere. Muzimvera zonena za anthu. Musaiwale kuti MCP base is central and northern regions. Mukamanyoza MCP dziwani kuti mukunyoza ndi kutukwana anthu azigawo ziwirizi. Ironically, the ruling DPP(Southern predominately south) akusekerera MBC sakudziwa the impact of MBC stupid propaganda. MBC siikunyoza MCP ngati chipani koma anthu a zigawo zapakati ndi kumpoto. ZIMATIWAWA ife azigawo ziwirizi. Koma tsiku lina ndikuti tsiku lina……………. mudzathamanga if this is not checked out immediately. MBC is for all political parties, all regions, all Malawians, all tribes, all religions all cultures. Ndikusala chifukwa cha inu, Ambuye achite nanu

  18. Hahahahahahaha tidawelenga ndithu ndipo tidaonaso kuti kumanja kwangaku kuli…………. kumazere kwangaku kuli Dr Chakweras team, chavuta nchaaa?

    3. They are just balancing the equation, let alone vindicating the stupid Allan Ngumuya remarks in Parliament that Times report negatively about Government

Comments are closed.