The Office of the President and Cabinet (OPC) on Friday cancelled a media inspection tour at Kamuzu Palace, over an hour after journalists were made to wait at the main gate.
According to Nation Online, 15 journalists from Nation Publications Limited, Zodiak Broadcasting Station, Mibawa Television, Malawi Broadcasting Corporation, MIJ FM and Malawi News Agency (MANA) convened at the Central Office of Information in Lilongwe’s City Centre by the scheduled 1pm but only left after 2pm, arriving at the palace gate around 2:45pm.
The tour, organized by OPC, was to enable journalists to appreciate the extensive vandalism occurred at State Residences during the handover period, prompting investigations and urgent repair works.
According to the publication, Director of Communication in the OPC, Victor Sibale, who was facilitating the tour, told reporters that the inspection could not proceed because key personnel meant to conduct the exercise were not available, as the President was currently in the Southern Region.
“We apologise for the inconvenience. The tour will [have to] be rescheduled to a later date,” Sibale said at the palace gates.
Despite the OPC’s assurance that the tour will be rescheduled, journalists have expressed frustration over the abrupt cancellation, describing it as poorly coordinated and raising doubts about transparency in government communication.
