Government spokesperson, Patricia Kaliati, has rejected a report which appeared in Malawi News and photographic evidence that showed the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) has been ferrying party supporters in State cars to party political meetings.
The paper reported that DPP used government vehicle MG 731 AF from Department of Forestry in the Ministry of Natural Resources, Energy and Mining, which ferried DPP supporters to a political rally by President Peter Mutharika in Chitipa last Wednesday.
DPP transported supporters from different areas to the meeting.
Chief Secretary to Government, George Mkondiwa and Secretary for Natural Resources and, Energy and Mining, Kester Kaphaizi expressed ignorance on the matter.
Even the DPP Secretary General, Ecklen Kudontoni and DPP Regional Governor for the North, Honourable Kenneth Sanga, distanced the party from the alleged ferrying of supporters using a government vehicle.
And Kaliati, who is also Minister of Information, accused the weekly paper for what she called sensational reporting “to claim these are old-habits-die-hard” for DPP, saying after all the officials denied knowledge to the matter, it went ahead to publish and accuse the DPP of abusing state resources and not respecting the separation of party and government functions as enshrined in the Constitution.
“We believe the fact that both the government and DPP distanced themselves from the alleged incident should have been enough for the Malawi News to stop painting the party and Government of abuse of tax payers’ money,” said Kaliati in a statement.
She said it is the policy of the DPP administration, to clearly separate government and party functions.
“The Public Sector Reforms under implementation will go ahead and will not be derailed by a few misguided individuals as well as a hyped up press bent on discrediting government at each and every turn notwithstanding the good progress the country is making under the DPP led administration,” Kaliati said.
She said the media should “move away from cold media tactics” and promote positive, ethical and progressive reporting practise.
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