Family members demand apology from MBC over Trapence’s death story

Family Members of late Harrison Trapence, father to vice chairperson of Human Rights Defenders Coalition (HRDC), Gift Trapence have penned the state controlled Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) demanding an apology over a facebook story.

MBC through its facebook page carried a story of the death of Trapence’s father. The state broadcaster indicated that the son failed to take care of his late father to the extent that he was asking for help from well-wishers.

“Death has been announced of Harrison Trapence Phiri who was the Father to Human Rights Activist Gift Trapence. According to the family, the late Trapence who has been bed ridden for over three years, has in the last two weeks been in the news asking for help from wellwishers as a result of what he called neglect from his Son, Gift Trapence,” reads part of the story published by MBC.

The story has attracted anger from the family members hence demanding an apology or risk being sued for defamation.

Patrick Trapence and his lawyer Wesley Mwafulirwa have all confirmed of the development in an interview with one of the local radio, Times radio.
“I can confirm we have written MBC concerning the subject and we have since delivered the said letter via email and by hand at MBC Kaning’ina Mzuzu Studios,” Mwafulirwa said.

Malawi Broadcasting Cooperation is yet to comment on development.

Gift Trapence has been critical of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) regime under President Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika.

Trapence together with some right activists in the country a baying for the blood of Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) Chairperson Jane Ansah for mismanaging the May 21 tripartite election.

Meanwhile President Mutharika has said that he will not fire Ansah.