Calls are now increasing for deputy minister for transport and public Works Charles Mchacha to issue an apology for verbally assaulting a journalist.
In an audio that has since gone viral, Mchacha is heard attacking Nation Publications Limited journalist Bobby Kabango after the reporter had previously been making attempts to source information on land selling deals that allegedly involved Mchacha.
Displeased that the journalist was making attempts to solicit information about the deals, Mchacha called Kabango, a call that the reporter apparently recorded and scorned at him and threatening he would meet his editors at NPL.
In reaction, MISA Malawi Chairperson Theresa Ndanga while describing the development as unfortunate has given Mchacha a week to apologize to the journalist.
Speaking to MIJ Online Ndanga has also asked the ministry of information to act on the matter as soon as possible.
“It is quite unfortunate MISA Malawi has also taken a stand in which we have written the minister and minister of information; first of all, we are demanding that Mchacha apologizes in a week, ‘’she said.
Minister of Information Mark Botomani refused to be drawn to comment on the matter but only said the ministry is consulting.
Meanwhile, the Human Rights Consultative Committee has penned the deputy minister to apologize to Kabango and his family over the said remarks.
In a related development, Botomani has called on politicians to refrain from utterances that would incite violence.
The remarks come following the recent statement that MCP Eisenhower Mkaka made at a public rally that following the court ruling, the party’s leader is now the state president.
“We found those remarks very unfortunate and outside the law because he (Mkaka) knows the Constitutional Court which gave a verdict on the presidential case they maintained the presidency of Peter Mutharika,’’ he said.