Analysis by Synd Kalimbuka
The long opinion by the Investigator recently denigrating President Lazarus Chakwera’s style of administration offers an interesting lesson in what is the difference between a journalistic story versus cheap propaganda.
A journalistic story is well researched. It is balanced by true and authoritative sources who render it objectivity. And, above all, it is inspired by public interest.
Unfortunately, the opinion (https://theinvestigator.news/president-chakweras-2025-hard-choices/) in question does not come close to the barest minimum of this journalistic threshold.
Instead, it has all the hallmarks of a piece of cheap propaganda. Propaganda uses biased language, imprecise and misleading information to influence public opinion for political or commercial purposes. In this case we are dealing with political propaganda.
This piece is not a response to the propaganda opinion. Rather this is an exercise in media literacy; helping citizens to critically analyse information before making a decision. So this is an invitation to critical thinking and patriotism.
Intentions and Approach
In terms of intentions, we find that some propaganda has clear intentions with a name to it. You can easily say this is so and so behind this propaganda. But others operate clandestinely sometimes even using third parties. The idea of hiding identity is to avoid questions and lawsuits because most of the information is dubious and badly sourced.
For example, in this particular propaganda under analysis, the intention is to denigrate the President and his administration in the eyes of right standing citizens of this country. The author has not hidden his identity but in terms of style, the author uses heavily biased information littered with imprecise generalities that cannot be verified. He panders to the fears and desperation of the people to evoke negative reactions. But with little success or none at all.
But we are here to dissect and expose every lie and exaggeration to set the record straight so that all Malawians are given accurate and truthful information to make informed opinions. At the very least, the author of the Investigator piece, who has a long history of doing proper journalism, owes it to Malawians both for his own reputation and for the sake of preserving the sanctity of journalism as a profession. He has a duty.
Let’s examine all the points raised by the Investigator against the President. We are going to weigh them on the scale of critical thinking using the journalistic tools of truth, accuracy, balance, objectivity and fairness for the process.
1.Take Social Media posts with a pinch of salt not on face value: Journalism 101
The Genesis of the investigator’s propaganda opinion stems from a social media rant of a frustrated State House employee who was venting her anger after she was duly fired for misconduct.
Journalism 101 says we must not take social media posts on face value. That we should treat them as news ideas that need to undergo a rigorous verification process before they are refined into a proper story. This process includes talking to the source of the post, the people mentioned in the audio and State House officials to verify for the sake giving a balanced story.
But without bothering to contact any of the above, the Investigator goes ahead to use the unverified contents of the audio to make sweeping statements against the president. He says and I quote:
” Serious allegations of theft, corruption and all sorts of debauchery at State House… could have seen heads to roll and the President should explain to the public why State House is operating like big brother house”
The truth is heads have already rolled with the firing of Tiyanjane Mulangeni, the source of all these wild accusations in an audio after a due process. She was first given a warning for misconduct against terms of her employment. And when she did it again, showing no sign of behavioural change, she was fired.
The process that was followed in the firing of Tiyanjane shows State House does not operate like big brother. It shows State House is a place of order. It has respect for decorum, rules and regulations. A matter that has been swiftly dealt with does not require any further explanation, least of all from the President. Please!
2. State House does not deal with Corruption, ACB does
The Investigator further accuses the President of inaction: ” The muted silence to the serious allegations that implicates State House officials in corruption carrying ‘bags of money from Malawi Revenue Authroty (MRA). ”
The truth of the matter is that State House does not deal with corruption. The Anti-Corruption Bureau is mandated to deal with corruption. The Investigator should know this. If the Investigator is convinced there is enough evidence pointing to wrong doing in the audio, we encourage the Investigator to submit a tip for the ACB to investigate and bring the culprits to book. I would happily do so.
But making these wild accusations without evidence has potential to tarnish image of innocent people which could lead to trouble because they can sue you. We also begin to question the integrity of the Investigator whether he is compromised or not.
“The president has failed to tame corrupt elements in the government “
This opinion is another generality that is incorrect and an exaggeration. If there is a government that has done a lot in fighting corruption, then it is this government. Here are the facts.
This government has increased capacity of ACB by increasing funding from K6.39 billion to K7.17 billion in the 2022/23 budget. This increase has allowed ACB to recruit more staff members than before and implement projects contained in the National Anti-Corruption Strategy II of 2020.
The government has also amended several legislations to create an independent and conducive environment for the ACB to operate. For example, the establishment of the Economic and Financial Crimes Court to expedite corruption cases. Not to mention removing the requirement for ACB to seek permission from DPP before prosecuting a case.
And, this is the only government where there are no sacred cows when it comes to facing the law. The President has not shielded anyone involved in corruption from arrest and prosecution. The Vice President was arrested, a couple of ministers, Police Inspector General, Presidential Advisors, too.
This is unlike in the past where many close to the President were shielded from prosecution, case of Presidential Aide Norman Chisale. To ignore these facts and claim the President is doing nothing on corruption, is being dishonest. The Investigator, once the voice of the truth at MBC and the Nation, is being dishonest. Why?
3. The President takes too long to act. For example, he is yet to give comprehensive economic recovery plan
This is another allegation that is an exaggeration of the truth designed to denigrate and paint a wrong picture of the President.
The president does not give reactionary responses to events. Rather, he consults first before making a decision. In fact, the President is a learning President. He learnt his lesson in the manner former minister Ken Kandodo was fired. It was a haste decision because when the facts came out, it was discovered the minister was harshly dealt with. Since then the President decided to take his time before making any decision that will have serious impact on people.
And, as they say, the slowness of a cat should not be misinterpreted for weakness. It is mark of calculation, precision, accuracy and cunning approach.
Now for the Investigator to claim that the President has not given a clear economic recovery plan as an example of lack of decisiveness, is a blue lie.
4. It is not true that the president is yet to give a comprehensive economic recovery plan or direction that’s a lie unless you are no in Malawi.
On 15th November, 2023, the President gave a comprehensive economic recovery plan that touched on a number austerity measures and some aspects designed to cushion the poor and small and medium sized enterprises from the economic crisis.
The President suspended international trips, reduced by 50% fuel entitlements for ministers, ordered a 15% salary increase for civil servants and a review of PAYE tax. IMF, World Bank and EU have also been forth coming to help the country with financial aid to lift businesses. The country has since started receiving $178 million from IMF, $60 million World Bank, EU resumption of direct budgetary support and many more.
Now for anyone to come and indulge in misinformation of this nature, we begin to question their motives and sanity. If you are indeed patriotic, then you owe it to the people to give them the correct information so that they can make informed decisions. Not engaging in cheap propaganda.
