LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-The National Advocacy Platform (NAP) has expressed deep concern and strong condemnation over reports that the Director General of the Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC), George Kasakula, was allegedly coerced by suspected Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) supporters to air a televised apology to President Arthur Peter Mutharika and his family.
In a strongly-worded statement released in on Friday, October 10, 2025 NAP described the incident as a direct attack on media freedom, the rule of law and public trust in national institutions.
The organisation said the alleged act was unacceptable in a democratic society and warned that such intimidation risks taking Malawi back to the dark days of fear and political manipulation.
NAP reminded the public that MBC is a national broadcaster mandated to serve all Malawians, not a propaganda arm or private apology platform for any political party or leader.
The group stressed that forcing the MBC Director General to act under duress undermines the independence of the media, threatens the safety of journalists and damages public confidence in the broadcaster.
The organisation further noted that this incident contradicts the spirit of peace and unity recently emphasized by President Arthur Peter Mutharika, whose public remarks called for respect for the rule of law and democratic order.
NAP said the alleged acts by political operatives are rogue and tarnish the image of both the government and political leadership if left unchecked.
NAP has therefore urged all public institutions to resist being used as tools of political influence and instead focus on serving the national interest.
The group warned that the continued politicisation of taxpayer-funded institutions exposes officers to personal risk, weakens professionalism and erodes democratic governance. It said such practices must come to an end for the sake of national unity and accountability.
In its statement, NAP called on the Malawi Police Service to investigate the matter thoroughly and ensure all those responsible are held accountable.
The grouping has also appealed to political party leaders to publicly distance themselves from acts of intimidation and to guarantee the safety and independence of MBC staff.
The platform further urged oversight and watchdog bodies such as the Malawi Human Rights Commission and the Media Council of Malawi to closely monitor any signs of abuse of public institutions.
NAP reaffirmed that all media houses in Malawi must operate free from coercion to protect the country’s democratic values.
The grouping observes further that the safety of journalists and media executives is essential to maintaining public trust and ensuring accountability in governance.
While acknowledging that MBC has in the past faced criticism for alleged bias against opposition leaders including Mutharika and Dalitso Kabambe, NAP clarified that this does not justify retaliation or intimidation against any public officer.
The grouping added that “Any grievances must be resolved lawfully through appropriate channels, not through acts of coercion or vigilante behaviour”.
The statement was jointly signed by NAP Chairperson Benedicto Kondowe and National Coordinator Baxton Nkhoma, who reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to defending democratic governance, protecting media independence and upholding accountability in Malawi.
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