By Burnett Munthali
The Concerned Citizens of Malawi – People Power Movement (CCM-PPM) has issued a scathing indictment of the Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) under the leadership of Director General George Kasakula.
In a strongly worded letter, the group has expressed outrage over what they describe as a blatant abandonment of professionalism, neutrality, and ethical journalism at MBC.
As a public broadcaster funded by taxpayers’ money, MBC has a mandate to serve all Malawians, irrespective of their political affiliations.
However, CCM-PPM argues that Kasakula has turned MBC into a partisan propaganda machine, systematically attacking opposition figures while shielding the failures of the ruling administration.
The role of the Director General of MBC is to ensure that the broadcaster upholds its mandate of providing fair, balanced, and professional coverage of national affairs.
This responsibility is enshrined in the Communications Act, which obligates MBC to provide diverse perspectives and uphold Malawi’s democratic values.
Instead, CCM-PPM alleges that under Kasakula’s leadership, MBC has become a vehicle for misinformation, character assassination, and political bias.
One of the most concerning issues raised by the group is MBC’s aggressive stance against opposition figures such as former President Arthur Peter Mutharika (APM) and presidential aspirant Dr. Dalitso Kabambe.
In a recent broadcast, MBC labeled Dr. Kabambe a “political fraud,” a move that CCM-PPM describes as reckless and an attempt to manipulate public opinion through distortion rather than truth.
The group challenges this characterization, posing a rhetorical question: If Dr. Kabambe is a fraud, what should we call those who made grand promises of economic prosperity but have led Malawi into economic hardship?
They further ask: What should we call those who vowed to end corruption but are now shielding and enabling it?
Additionally, they question what name should be given to a public broadcaster that has abandoned its constitutional duty and become a propaganda tool.
CCM-PPM warns that history has shown that state-sponsored misinformation never succeeds in preserving a government’s grip on power.
They cite Malawi’s past experiences in 1994, 2004, and 2020 as evidence that propaganda from MBC has failed before and will fail again in 2025.
The group draws a troubling parallel between MBC’s biased reporting and the role of the media in Rwanda’s tragic history, where irresponsible broadcasting contributed to conflict and violence.
They argue that using MBC as a platform to attack and dehumanize political opponents is a dangerous game that could destabilize the country.
Malawi, they insist, cannot afford to follow that path, and its leaders must learn from history rather than repeat its mistakes.
In light of these concerns, CCM-PPM is demanding an immediate end to biased political reporting at MBC.
They insist that MBC mustb return to its rightful role as a national broadcaster that serves all Malawians fairly and impartially.
The letter urges Kasakula to rise above partisan interests and commit to journalistic integrity.
Should he fail to do so, CCM-PPM warns that his legacy will be one of tarnishing the credibility of public broadcasting in Malawi.
The group concludes with a reminder that while governments change, the principles of professionalism, integrity, and fairness remain constant.
They challenge Kasakula to make a choice—either to be remembered as a leader who strengthened MBC’s credibility or as one who destroyed it.
