Zodiak, Luntha face the chop

…while MBC left untouched

Two of Malawi’s private media houses could soon find themselves in trouble after the government accused them of breaching broadcasting standards, while the state broadcaster has escaped similar scrutiny despite its own role in the controversy.

The government has formally asked the Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA) to investigate and take disciplinary action against Zodiak Broadcasting Station (ZBS) and Luntha TV over alleged breaches of broadcasting standards.

In a statement, Minister of Information and Communications Technology Shadric Namalomba said the government is concerned by what it described as the recurring disregard for journalistic ethics by the two broadcasters.

According to Namalomba, ZBS recently aired a false report claiming that President Arthur Peter Mutharika had travelled outside the country.

“Government strongly condemns the recent broadcast by ZBS that falsely reported that President Arthur Peter Mutharika had travelled outside the country. The report was incorrect and constituted a breach of responsible broadcasting,” reads part of the statement.

Namalomba said the incident was the second involving ZBS within 12 months, following earlier reports of alleged missing manhood cases in the Shire Valley, which he said were aired without verification and caused public alarm.

The minister also faulted Luntha TV over a programme featuring Centre for Democracy and Economic Development Initiatives (CDEDI) Executive Director Sylvester Namiwa, saying the content did not meet the standards expected of responsible broadcasting.

“Government has therefore requested the Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA) to promptly initiate disciplinary proceedings against the two media houses and take appropriate action for the breaches of the broadcasting codes,” Namalomba said.

He added that while the government remains committed to protecting media freedom, broadcasters must exercise that freedom responsibly and avoid spreading falsehoods that undermine public trust.

However, the statement does not indicate whether any action will be taken against the state-owned Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC), which was also linked to the confusion surrounding Mutharika’s travel.

On Tuesday, MBC Digital published a Facebook post stating that Mutharika was expected to travel to South Africa on a private visit. The post was deleted a few minutes later.

On the same day, ZBS reported that the President had already left the country, a report it later retracted and apologised for after saying it had relied on trusted sources at Kamuzu International Airport.

Mutharika eventually departed Malawi on Wednesday for South Africa on a private visit.