Malawians on social media are demanding an apology from the British Broadcasting Cooperation (BBC) World Service for their Tuesday’s Focus on Africa program.
During the program BBC alluded that Malawi being a poor country should not be wasting money by giving out gifts, in reaction to President Lazarus Chakwera’s pledge to give Flames Players K1 million Each if they qualify to round of 16 at the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
The development irked Malawians and resorted to online protests against the UK broadcaster as they are invading BBC World Service and BBC Africa demanding an apology.
Other African countries have also joined the Malawi online protests demanding them to apologize to Malawians for the wrong they did.
Government spokesperson Gospel Kazako has called the remarks by BBC focus on Africa host as imperialist and colonial.
“You have to know that we have a culture of doing things here. We have a way of doing what we do and those comments are very unfortunate.
“We accept that we are poor, yes. But we are not poor to the extent that we cannot give or exchange gifts. It could be animals, it could be land or money. The thinking that this is wrong because we have problems is very retrogressive.
“I think this story is somehow smelling some fragrance of imperialism of some nature. Because these things happens in America, it happen in Britain there. So, accept that this is the way we do things.” Kazako said.
Meanwhile, Malawi National Football team has made history by qualifying to the round of 16 of the Africa Cup of Nations for the first time ever, and will face Morocco on Tuesday 25 January, 2022.
