Viola attacks Zodiak, Malawi media for reporting on president’s travel bill

October 8, 2015 Owen Khamula - Nyasa Times 101 Comments

Presidential press officer Geralld Viola has been criticised for attacking private radio station Zodiak and other media watchdogs for exposing the extravagance of the presidency, saying his actions are tantamount to making President Peter Mutharika a dictator.

Viola: The making of a dictator
Viola: The making of a dictator

Zodiak and Nyasa Times reported President Mutharika was chartering a presidential jet costing the struggling poor Malawians billions of money.

But Viola, instead of letting the President address the issue of national importance during a news conference on Wednesday, attacked the radio and some Malawi independent media outlets for probing on President’s travel bill.

He said it was not surprising that Zodiak “were doing commentary like a football match” on the sudden death of late president Bingu wa Mutharika.

“Abwana, enafe sitikudabwa kuti wailesi imeneyi imayankhula zimenezi chifukwa ndi omwe aja brother wanu atamwalira, imachemelera ngati mpira,” Viola said in Chichewa during a live broadcast on state radio MBC.

But some Malawians took to the social media describing Viola’s sentiments as those of making of a dictator.

In 2009 Viola miserably failed in primary parliamentary elections in his home in Chikwawa after he borrowed huge sums of money through katapila to fund his political campaign.

He started his career as a news reader at MBC before former minister Sidik Mia hired him as his personal assistant.

In his statement, Mutharika said he took with him a larger than life delegation of 106 people and vehemently defended his position, saying each one of them played a vital role at the UN general assembly in US where they stayed for a month.

Mutharika boasted he does not need money from poor Malawians, saying he has fat bank accounts in the US.

Violla was recently severely criticised for writing heads of ministries and government departments to advertise with Galaxy FM a family business of late Bingu wa Mutharika, with others calling for his head.

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101 replies on “Viola attacks Zodiak, Malawi media for reporting on president’s travel bill”

  2. Iwe Vyola usa limbane ndi zbs ndi wailesi yokhayo imene imatiuza zoona.Koma usaiwale kuti paja umadziwa kuwelenga nkhani pa wailesi ndiye Nyapape akakutaya ngati tishu zbs ikhoza ukulemba ntchito.

  5. Gerald Vyola, ndiwe mbuli siwungalangize prof. peter wachepa kwambili. people like you are the ones who lead to the death of Bingu. If BP rises that man and dies uli mmadzi.

  6. we are all malawians.plz lets lov one another.vyola plz. respect the rights of the medias.osaiwala kuti zbs imatiuza zomwe zikuchitika. Mukapanga zina timvera kwa zodiak.

  8. Aunt zomwe ayamba Uncle athuwa zitipindulira koma,atithiratu mphepo akut adalowa ukulu wampingo ndindalama zawo,komanso akut muli inuko iwo ndalama zawo zilipo zambiri,koma pompano Unclewa amapepha amipingo wakumene muli inuko Aunt kut athandize anthu a Church akunowa paja kudagwa chivula chija chidapangitsa kut anthu ampingo wawo ataye miyoyo.Ndiye atamuki ajawa mudawapatsa Sikono aja anawauza Unclewa kut achoke m’mudzi muno akanatu akut sachoka chifukwa timakobiri ali nato todzapangiranso capaign.

  10. A Viola ndinu kachaniso inu? muziyamba mwaganiza kaye musanatuluse mawu musakomedwe ndi ndalama mukudyazo.Kumeneko ndiye kuwora m’kamwa kwa mlomwe.Alomwe mwanyanya kukokerana ku una pamene alomwe azanu ku Thyolo,mulanje ,phalombe ndi Chiradzulu akufa ndi njala..Kodi mumafuna tizingowonera MBC ya azigogo ija?Kodi chilungamo chisawoneke?A DPP ndinu opusa kwambiri ndipo monga mlomwe waku Thyolo sitikukufunaniso kwathu.Tizawonana 2019

  11. The way Viola reacted, he knew he was hiding something. What contributions did Gogochalo Kabudula and Ngongoliwa make to the UN?

  12. What shall we say then rather than saying “Fear God and give glory to him for the judgement hour has come and lets warning men and women living in the last time against receiving the MARK OF THE BEAST AND HIS IMAGE

  14. A Viola muziyamba mwafunsa kaye a mzanu zoyenera kuyakhula pa gulu la anthu, Mind you this is not one party state ngati nthawi ya Dr Banda ndipo chomwe ungadziwe ndi chakuti ife amalawi takutopelani ndi ambuyakowo opanda nzeru wo!!!! chifukwa chakuti mukulephera kuyang’anira dziko ndiyeno mukufuna kuyamba kuloza chala ma Radio komanso ma individuals ena!! usamaletu iwe Viola zikuvuta a mzako ena anakhalapo udindo umenewo nanga pano ali kuti? ask yourself. Sinthawi yoopsyezana ino ife sitingachite mantha ndipo apo zithu sizikuyenda bwino ife tizalankhula ndithu.

  15. On this one i have no comment….but i have alot to tell which i know its not a comment but the truth so help me God

  16. Atolankhani ena amadabwisa ,Munthu wafotokoza mwachimvekere koma mukubwereza kufunsa zoti wayankha kale nde mufuna akuuzeni kuti chani? Kungobwera ndi mafunso azimene mukuganiza basi mmalo mofunsa zimene munthu walongosolaz kkkkkk palibe nzeru apa!!!!!

  17. So is Gerald lying against you and zodiak? ifetu timamvera kawailesi kameneka kakuchemelera kumachita kufunsa atolankhani ngati zachibwana lero mukuti chani? Komatu mundisamale from July 2011 up to date ndinapanga udani ndi zodiak ndipo sindimvera olo m’pang’ono pomwe ndipo musandionjeze mwamva? Iam 100% supporting Gerald, poti chilungamo chimawawa viva Geri! more fire!

  18. Zodiak is the best radio station in Malawi. They do not support any political party like Galaxy. Iwe Viola waiwala kuti you are from Galaxy radio. Keep it up Zodiak.

  19. Viola be careful with your word. Once it’s out of your mouth it can be forgiven but not forgotten.

  20. Peter was voted the worst professor in a community college he was teaching in.He did not have enough money except for what he inherited from what his late elder brother looted through the uranium deal.

  21. Dziko lapansi limadana nd cilungamo zbs ndi yokhayo imatiuza zoona anthu akumudzife, musadat cifukwa ziziululikabe.

  22. AMALAWI KUSAMVA ,KUIWALA NSANGA KOMANSO KUKOPEKA NDI ZA ZIII,MTENGO WA MALAMBE UMAKHALA NDI NTHAMBI ZAMBIRI ZOMWE ZIMABEREKA ZIPATSO ZOFANANA, DPP NADI DPP BASI.

  23. Viola ndi msena moti palibe chimene akuona cholakwika, kutukwana ndiye language, olakwa ndi amene akumupatsa mpata olankhulapo pa nkhani zazikulu, lolani abwerere koweta ng’ombe ameneyu

  24. Gospel Kadzako should be having his best time in his career. DPP is at him, PP shortly was, that means his is a professional radio station. Reporting as it is. Osaona nkhope. Big up G, we need people like you!

  26. dont blame the media for telling us what is happening its there job to do so,amakhala ofunika pokamba za zisankho pokha

  28. mbuzi yamunthu viola so shameful PETER SAFUNA NDALAMA CHITSIRU MUDALA AMENEYU AKUUZA ANA RUBBISH NYAPAPI

  29. is it under ethics of journalism kuti munthu muzimukumba from his bad background even though its not related to the story developed? chonde musayinyazise Nyasatimes just because of your corrupt mind over individuals. pali chifukwa chotiwuzira kuti anabwereka katapira komanso analephera zisankho and anali personal assistant. he is better off that he has a job koma enafe tinabwereka ndalama yochitira campaign ndipo tinaluza zisankho ndipo pano tikuluza our belongings in the name of chikole coz tilibe mtengo ogwira. Shame on you!!

  30. A Noxy mwaoneka kuti simumvera zbs. Zbs ndiyo wailesi imene amachita cover zinthu zonse zofunika. Ok, a viola, mukuti zbs anachemelera maliro ngati mpira? maliro ake ati popeza nthawi imene ija munali kukana zoti wina wamwalira? Ndimayesa paja munkati mkulu uja anakamwalirira ku SA? Atsimikizirenitu amalawi kuti munabisa maliro. Mind your speeches, you, fellow.

  31. When I heard that Viola has been given that position, I knew that zinthu sizikhala bwino especially kumbali ya atolankhani.

  32. Shut up we tired even atalowa wina adzapanga chimodzi modzi kugwilitsa ntchito zinthu za boma ndisiyeni ine ndidzingolima chambachi basi akuna mkinga

  33. A Viola paja munkanena kuti a President sanadzeler ku Dubai, and a President anena okha kuti anadzera ku Dubai… Apa zikuonetseratu kuti Viola ndi Mbuzi ya munthu…

  34. why are Malawians busy politiking on less strategic issues? you are all stupid citizens, get a life and start following God and take care of your miserable lives

  35. I know all comments against the mighty ZBS are coming from ANGURU odya njka ndi Kalingonda. A true Malawian cannot despise the ZBS because its only the radio, that has made Malawians know their rights. Sitingalakwitse kuti ndi radio imene inayenera kukhala ya boma osati nyasi zinazi. Too much politics wailesi zinazi

  36. Fellow Malawians, capital radio is far much better than zodiac. Zodiac is not dynamic, they just copied programmes from MBC radio one. Very boring and they hurried to introduce TV. Heeeeeeeesh! Just trash.

  39. Aviola munali ndani inu, mwayamba kusalala ndi mafuta otsala a president mwati mutinyasepo apa,mmene mwayamba kudziwa kufunsira mu dzina la president basi mwati mwafikapo.kungomva kuti Galu wa president ndi president wa agalu, inunso chimoodzi modzi, ZBS akuchepa mwana uyu tiye nayeni?

  40. Aviola nzeru mulibe,zomwe zbs inanena ndi zomwe presdent wakoyo wanena,za ndege ndi zonsezo.Chifukwa chake unaluza zisakho kwanu

  41. Tinene kuti atolankhani a zodiac ntchito yawo nkuyang’ana president basi? Kulibe nkhani zina zoti azitiuzaa?I am tired of this UN Story give it a black out.Look for other important stories.Climate change,Hunger,Engineering manufacturing.Atolankhani mukuthandizira kugwetsa dziko lathu kwabasi.You really misuse your precious knowledge and intelligence on stupid issues.There was an investiment conference some months ago Malawi wooing investors to create jobs and boost our economy but you covered a little on this.People who want to get good marks on other peoples misery,bad profession!

  42. A viola, mukufuna kukoma pamatchona? Inutu mudzatsala konkuno ndiye mudzasowa pogwila. ntchentche imatibwa?

  44. Cry beloved mother Malawi.Time has come to look back and learn our lesson once and for all.Our people lost their precious life to make us free and respecterble in our own country,but what is going on today,is very contrary.We have turned our nation into a regrettably man eat man society that has tarnished Malawi’s once peaceful and humane way of living.It is not a hearsay,but a reality and big reality that Peter wamuthalika is a corrupt despot on par with his brother late Thom Muthalika.How Malawians became victims of these two excursionists ( Travellers) and rogues,must be a big lesson to learn.Once beaten,twice shy.It is a joke and idiotic for Peter Muthalika to apoint Violla a fatuous as his confidante while there are tons of capable and brilliant Malawians from all walks of life.Indeed,the aftermath of unbriddled and treacherous tribalism is the outcome of what we are experiencing today and more dangerous are on the way.This reminds of Albert Q Muwalo and Gwanda Chakuamba in 1964 famous cabinet crisis in which Banda fired the most brilliant and patriotic Ministers when they bravely stood against his repulsive policies that Muwalo and Chakuamba upheld,their idiotic stance backfired and they were badly manhandled by Zomba youths that Chakuamba nearly lost both eyes and Muwalo was tought a good lesson.After appointed government Ministers for being good boys to Banda,the honeymoon didn’t last long,Muwalo ended in gallows and Chukuamba ended in prison and after 11 years,he was freed by the pressure mounted by former exiles whom both wanted to kill in order to please their master.It is sad and unbelievable that Muthalika would despise the poor people of Malawi and yet he and his rogue brother stole billions of Kwacha from them and opened Bank accounts in the USA in case of his brother,he built a small White House ( Ndata ) in Cholo.Lastly,I would like to remind Malawians that politics based on tribal lines,will help nobody as it is now,not only the hated Tumbukas are the victims of the failures of the Lomwe and Chewa leadership,all of our people from Songwe to Nsanje and Likoma Islands to Chipata succumb to egregious and one sided leadership and I hope our brothers and sisters from the Central and Southern Regions have learnt their lesson in a big way.Divided we fall and united we stand.VENCEREMOS.

  45. A Mzee mwati …’Capital radio has class & objectivity & is of international standard’. Awo ndi maganizo anu. Koma ndimati ndinene izi: Choyamba, nthawi zina kuwerenga nkhani kapena kulankhula mChingelezi mu ‘accent’ yofuna kuti umveke ngati udabadwa nkukulira kunja ndi zomwe ziri ku Capital. Ngati imeneyo ndiye international standard, ndingoti zikomo. Chachiwiri, a ZBS amaulutsa ambiri mwa mapulogalamu awo mChichewa-anthu ambiri amamva ndi kulankhula Chichewacho mdziko muno. Pamenepo ku Capital amakakamira Chingelezi. Mdziko muno ambiri satha kulemba ndi kuwerenga Chingelezicho. Apo a Capital adambwita. Chachitatu, wayilesi ziwirizi zidabadwa mzaka zosiyana a Capital mma 90s (pakati pa 95 ndi 98) pomwe a ZBS ndi mu 2005. Enawa akhala akusamukasamuka chibadwireni pomwe inayi yangoti nji! A Capital ngati mukufuna mudzipambana pitani ku United States of America. Kumeneko ndiye mudzikapambana mphoto zosiyanasiyana.

  46. Nyasa Times editors, do not allow readers to post insults on your website. It is very unethical. U also undermine u r credebility as editors. U can’t allow readers to openly insult someone. They can criticise, but not insult.

  47. In times like these i remember Ralph Tenthani may your soul continue resting akanawafwafwantha a viola wa

  48. Viola sanalakwe. Zodiak nthawi Zina imaonjeza.MSCE ikugwilizana bwanji ndi ndi nkhani yi. Anthu ama degree apeza ntchito ku Zodiak komweko ndi munthu wa MSCE yomweyi !

  49. Yea! That Radio doesn’t follow ethics of journalism, Aviola tiyeni nayo ndiya ndale that Radio Station, DPP! Boma!! Beyond 2025!! That radio must go to hell!!! Where it belongs!

  51. Nthawi zina wopusa anayimba ng’oma ochenjela ndikumavina. Tiye nazoni. Atolankhani akumalawi: kufunsa funso loti layankhidwa kale. Mtolankhani wamkazi uyu nayenso abwelere ku xul.

  52. Mr Viola,
    amati ukakwera mumutengo osamati kunja kulibe mama. You were appointed on that possition to build the relationship between govnment and media and guide the president on issues to do with media communication. I think you are suppossed to be a Dpp governor not press advisor. If you attack zodiak do you see yourself winning the fight? you guys i mean Dpp you are losing a lot, you need to know that Malawians are not happy with this Dpp government. They know now how you hacked Mec messages and win the elections mobela.deliver then people will say mbava yachitukuko iyi koma ndakayika kuti mungathe.

  54. this person is MSE student, so how can we expect something good from him?? We shud just ask Mr president to send him back to xool,may be akaziwe that this Malawi belongs to All malawians

  55. Going by the statements made by Viola himself, it demonstrates that this Viola guy is not suitable to be any near the high public office of president, this only shows how cheap Peter Muthalika is despite being professor. Any body who uses public resources which come from out tax money must be prepared to be accountable, that is the principle. Our tax money cannot be used like sharing mbuzi amongst family members.

    This second Muthalika is a big failure, he cant articulate important issues properly, the economy is in a mess, he has so far done very little to convince donors to resume aid. No sane person can smile at the way things sre going.

  56. So who said that we need this oldman as our president?.Who called him to be our president in Malawi?Why can’t he pay his useless boated entourage from his personal money from his fat account as he claims than wasting our taxes carrying a horde of people who do not any value to Malawians.Pitala go back to US where you have been slaving all these years.Nobody is going to miss you in Malawi.We had had enough of you.

  57. Yes Viola is wrong but to say Zodiak is the best is also wrong. Capital radio has class and objectivity and is of international standard. The media must indeed be left free to report on national issues without any restriction as one way of informing us and checking govt excesses. Unfortunately every stupid person finds Malawian journalism to be the only job they can do. How i wish we could produce people of John Negenda’s quality in our lovely country. Choncho.

  58. A viola tamangodyani ma million atsala ku new york kunali anzanu a Timpunza ndi a ndala lero alikuti ndi dziko ili, the reporter has said it youre the worst press secretary and he is right, youre so dumb

  59. amenewo matama apresident. ?Munali yani inu kupanda kuba?. Nanga chinkazi chako chija chimafuniranji ndalama ku NAC Bambo ali chikhwaya? Ndiye poti mwatha kale apo ,ndalamazo si zo ngosiya basi? Heeeheeeeee @@@.i hope you had all your teeth when saying that.ziko ambi zikoambi.

  60. Its called accountability , No need for all this rubbish ….We are talking a lot of money not just some loose change ! Kenyans with sound finance only took 20 and even Nigeria only took a hand full what is wrong with a Malawi ?

  64. No wonder Viola is another crap in this administration, and your president says he doesn’t need money from poor Malawians, then why did he left his base and come to Malawi? Another fool of president, idiot.

  65. ZODIAK Woye agalu amenewa ofunika kwasalila kudya kwa 40days afa ngati Bingu yemweuja Ufulu tikunenawu ndiye uti? MBolozanu Nose ku Bomako

  66. Tikati tamvera nkhani ndizodiaki palibenso yopikisana nayo olo radio1 +2+galaxy smungafikepo pa zbs ndiye mumvere galaxy zoduka mutu zenizen asowa chochita

  69. Muluti muthalika amati chaaani?? Amati palibe nazo ntchito ndalama za a Malawi osauka nanga akutikakamila chani poti ife timnankana pa voti koma iye mpaka kubela mavoti kuti adxitibera ndalama. Watsoka iweee

  70. OLO CHINKHOPE CHA VIOLA CHIKUONEKA KUTI SICHINAPANGE SUKULU YOKWANILA AND FURTHERMORE THE BUSTARD DOESN’T LOOK LIKE A PRESIDENTIAL PRESS OFFICER

  71. What can we say if long time we declared Malawi as a failed state? Now u c Viola as an example of people in a failed state how they conduct themselves. They r always the clapping hands in order to score extra points. Like boss like servant. Mutharika himself ,a leader of a failed state boasting about Millions of dollars stolen from poorest of the poor Malawians

  72. Viola was right in critising u zodiak and nyasa times because of the way u carried the story, it was unethical and targeting reporting. U critisize others but u don’t want to be critisized then thus not freedom. Should the freedom be enjoyed by one party, the news men? No. If u report news that have false facts, be ready to be critisize and applogise. Especially you two u seem to target the president and the dpp. Please write well reserched stories that will make u respected. I,m 100% sure that u know that not all stories have true facts. Most of ur stories especially those to do with the presisent and dpp carry 50% false facts. Thats the problem with u i must be frank here. So don’t expect not to be corrected or critisized. Good writes come back to make an applogy and state the true facts about the story they eroneously published. But not with u, never. U say its freedom of writing. Then who dosen’t have freedom of critisizing. Ur motto of zikachitika mumvera kwa if is misleading u. Everything is zikachiti

  76. Kuzolowera kudya phenembe basi uchitsiru ndi umbuli,if your president dont need our money why then is he on the payroll kuphwisa ndikugeya ndi ndalama zathu zomwezo.Uyuso watsala pang’ono tikayikansog

  77. Don’t be pompous with political appointments. Soon you shall go back to galaxy. We trust Zodiak and you can’t deny us our freedom of expression.

  80. Whose money is the president saying he doesn’t need? If Malawians, then he like JB should scrape his monthly pay off. This will simply pass out a signal that this president cares. But is it also not derogatory to say I don’t need your money? But he also doesnt want talk on resignation or early retirement. I suggest we have a president who gets what is due to him and is also responsible to manage the state affairs well. Demonstrate the will to serve to the best of your capability.

  83. two things I suggest to this uncultured viola man
    first, consult your most immediate predecessor (Steve nhlane) on professionalism of your position. secondly seek feedback on your utterances today; from those of opposing opinion and not from muthalika’s hand clappers

  85. It doesn’t matter if Viola has is an MSCE holder, what matters is performance . We have to be honest, Malawi degrees are a Higher Diploma in countries were education is taken seriously.

  86. Choipa chingachitike ku Zodiak ndiyekuti ndiwe Violla’Cardiac arrest ulikuti tiombolepo apa

  89. Number 1. Have a respect to the president. You are a coward. WETHER YOU LIKE IT OR NOT HE IS YOUR PRESIDENT OF THE DAY.

  90. ZODIAC PENA PAKE IMAENJEZA KOMANSO MA REPORTERS AKE NGA MPHUMA NKHANI SANAIMVE BWINO BWINO AFIKA NAYO KALE PA AIR ZINAZI A KAZAKO SINTHANI, MKANA ZA ZAZISANKHO ZIJA ZINAKUSALIRANINSO , NKHANI KUSINJIRIRA ATI ATAMIKE

  93. zoona azodiak mumanyanya you think amalawi ndi buli bwanj osamanenako zabwino bwanj? tikudziwa kti akazako wailesiyo siyanu koma za azungu amachita kukutumani kti musokoneze mitu ya amalawi et? nde anyasatimes nde mukutengera zimenezi et

  94. Viola ingopitani ku Galaxy namakayimba nyimbo. But standing publicly while criticising Malawians portlays your nonses on democracy. ZBS IS the best station ever in Malawi & Galaxy is miles away from the better.

  98. You stupid man in a democracy the press and every Malawian has. Right to know the expanded its President and government incur. You do not know what democracy means and so does your bafoon of a President. Mutharika should be ashamed of behaving the way that he does. He was poor Proffesor in USA until his dead brother stole billions to make him reach. Forsake you keep quite on issues you know nothing about. This Mutharika aspires to be a dictator.

  99. Dziko silamuthu mmodzi, Zodiak woyee, nyasatimes woyee, inenso woyeee. Musayese ntchitoyo ndiyamuyaya baba za temporary izi

  100. Inu if you do not need our money then go back to USA. Who needs you here a dunderhead like you? mxii!!!

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