Deputy Minister of Transport and Public Works Honourable Charles Mchacha has apologized for verbally attacking and intimidating Nation Publications Limited (NPL) journalist Bobby Kabango.

Mchacha used all sorts of swearwords in a recorded phone conversation with Mr. Kabango who was pursuing a story on how the Deputy Minister allegedly acquired public land in Limbe, Blantyre.

Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) Malawi chapter Chairperson Teresa Ndanga confirmed of the development in a statement made available to Faceofmalawi reporter.

According to Ndanga, Mchacha went to NPL offices in Blantyre to apologise for his behavior on Tuesday morning.

Mchacha apologised in the presence of MISA Malawi National Governing Council (NGC) member Mandy Pondani, Human Rights Consultative Committee (HRCC) Chair Robert Mkwezalamba and NPL officials.

MISA Malawi wrote Honourable Mchacha demanding a public apology for verbally attacking and intimidating Mr. Kabango.

The Chapter also asked Minister of Information, Honourable Mark Botomani, to disassociate government from Honourable Mchacha’s conduct and assure the nation that Honourable Mchacha’s actions were not a reflection of government policy to threaten and intimidate journalists working to uphold principles of transparency and accountability in a nation whose constitution guarantees media freedom.