Former Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) director general George Kasakula is expected to appear before court today for formal charging after spending a second night in a police cell following his arrest for alleged abuse of office.
National Police spokesperson Lael Chimtembo confirmed in an interview yesterday that Kasakula alongside former MBC director of finance Jackson Kamwachale, who were arrested on Wednesday after several hours of questioning at Fiscal Police offices in Blantyre, will be taken to court this afternoon.
“The two will answer charges bordering on abuse of office,” he said.
Private practice lawyer Bentley Nyondo, who is representing Kasakula, yesterday said his client and Kamwachale were initially expected to be taken to court yesterday, but the State encountered an internal administrative glitch that delayed the process.
“We are ready with the bail applications and we will do that soon after the formal charges,” he said.
Kasakula’s arrest comes about three weeks after MBC board dismissed him over allegations of gross misconduct.
The decision followed his appearance before the board’s Human Resources and Administration Committee on accusations that he had politicised the public broadcaster, claims that previously sparked debate about the independence of the State-owned media institution.
Kasakula was appointed MBC director general in 2021 and signed a new contract in June 2024 that was expected to run until 2027. However, he was suspended from his position in October last year pending investigations into the allegations.
In October 2025, suspected Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) cadets stormed MBC’s Kwacha Studios in Blantyre where they forced Kasakula out of his office and dragged him to a live television studio. During the broadcast, he apologised to President Peter Mutharika and First Lady Gertrude Mutharika over remarks that were perceived as critical during the campaign period.
Under Section 117 (3) of the Communications Act of 2016, the director general of the public broadcaster can be removed from office on several grounds, including incompetence, misconduct or involvement in active politics.
