Malawi Congress Party Demands Retraction from Times Group Over “Fake” State House Story
Published on October 9, 2025 at 4:24 PM by Evance Kapito
The Malawi Congress Party (MCP) has issued a strong condemnation of Times Group and reporter Cathy Maulidi, demanding an immediate apology for a front-page story the party calls “malicious and irresponsible.”
The controversy stems from an article titled “State House in Disrepair,” published on Wednesday, October 8th, which alleged that President Chakwera and the MCP deliberately damaged state residences before leaving office.
In a press release dated October 9th, MCP National Publicity Secretary Dr. Jessie Kabwila categorically refuted the claims, stating the allegations are “entirely false.” The party asserts that the report used “fake photos” purportedly showing a damaged Kamuzu Palace.
“The MCP condemns in the strongest terms the unprofessional conduct of Times Group,” Dr. Kabwila stated. “We demand an immediate apology for this malicious and irresponsible reporting.”
The party reminded the media group of the importance of accuracy and fairness, calling them the cornerstones of responsible journalism. While affirming its respect for press freedom, the MCP warned that misrepresentation damages public trust.
Dr. Kabwila defended President Chakwera as a “patriotic and development-oriented leader,” pointing to his record on infrastructure. She also called it “absurd” to suggest the MCP would destroy property originally built by the party’s founding father, the late Hastings Kamuzu Banda.
The statement concluded by framing the story as a political maneuver by the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) to divert public attention from its own unfulfilled campaign promises, such as free secondary education and increased Constituency Development Fund (CDF) allocations.
The MCP has urged the public to disregard the allegations and seek information from credible sources. As of now, Times Group has not publicly responded to the demand for an apology.
