Malawi's media institutions accused of bribery

The publication had alleged that Malawi's President Dr. Bingu wa Mutharika was in a comma and that his younger brother Professor Peter wa Mutharika who is his senior advisor had taken over the mantle in a story they published last month which they retracted and apologised for two days later.

It is alleged that the government through Mutharika's business partner Fyton Mulli of Mulli Brothers paid about K1 million for the council to hold a news conference where they condemned the Nyasa Times.

According to the general view of practitioners, this was wrong because Nyasa Times is not registered in Malawi and therefore it falls under no obligation to follow the country's prescribed ethical conduct.

A journalist working for Nation Publications Limited (NPL) has written a petition to the two bodies asking them to investigate the matter and take appropriate steps.

NAMISA chairperson Brian Ligomeka responded to the petitions by promising to investigate the matter and respond within 14 days from its position and perspective.