Raphael Tenthani a Malawi respected reporter and weekly opinion writer who has dedicated his Mu-cracking on Sunday column widely distributed in Print Media and online publications to opposing the Malawi President Peter Mutharika has been according to many observers to have been more effective than the new crowned opposition leader Lazarus Chakwera.
Within days of winning the contested Presidency, Peter Mutharika appeared to stray from his written statements and would simply summarize it in his speeches and in most cases miss his own applause and main lines. When Raphael pointed this out a Maravi Post reporter noted that the President appeared to have followed his advice and showed improvement in his speech delivery and presentation.
On Salary Hike-gate Lazarus Chakwera only took to the Mike when the whole country was in an up-roar, to make matters worse he refused to rescind his own raise, according to Jooma, MPs recommended to the President about the pay hike and that the first proposal was rejected and the President counter-offered the amount that has currently been implemented.
Lazarus Chakwera claimed his salary was rectified as leader of opposition status to that of a full Cabinet minister; hence his salary hike should stay as raised, this happening when Malawians are going through economic hardships.
When the acerbic MCP Publicity Secretary Jessie Kabwila hitched a ride on Peter Mutharika’s chartered presidential jet travelling from Zimbabwe, Honourable Lazarus Chakwera was mum, He had not comment. It took Raphael Tenthani Sunday article titled “Jessie’s little joyride” to bring the matter to the attention of the Malawi public.
Well, take heart that both Peter and Jessie were for austerity measures before their current status. So whoever hatched the idea of chartering a jet for the President was probably asleep when both Peter and Jessie went to town on Ama’s “well-wishers” private jet excursions.
But, I am sorry, my dear friend Jessie, the stunt was politically – and principally – misguided, if not dead wrong” wrote Raphael Tenthani.
While news organizations such as The Maravi Post answer to many constituencies, including advertisers and Owners, the journalists in those organizations must maintain allegiance to citizens and the larger public interest above any other if they are to provide the news without fear or favour.
This commitment to citizens first is the basis of a news organization’s credibility, the implied covenant that tells the audience the coverage is not slanted for friends, advertisers or Government leaders. Commitment to citizens also means journalism should present a representative picture of all constituent groups in society.
However Mu-cracking on Sunday column is clearly an opinion column, therefore not bound by the same rules that a reporter would be bound by. Make no mistake Raphael Tenthani in his Sunday column has dedicated himself to lead the opposition to the Leadership of Peter Mutharika.
If I was Peter Mutharika I would dedicate resources to countering Raphael Tenthani as much as I dedicate to Lazarus Chakwera If not more, since to-date he has been the Presidents most effective critic.
