Malawi’s media regulator has waded into the growing controversy over broadcasters’ coverage of President Peter Mutharika, expressing “deep concern” over two separate incidents it says exposed serious lapses in journalistic standards. The Media Council of Malawi (MCM) said it had observed recent developments in the national media landscape “with deep concern,” pointing to broadcast reports and interviews that it said had generated public anxiety, misinformation and ethical debate across the country. In a statement signed by executive director Moses Kaufa, the Council singled out two incidents for scrutiny. The first centred on reports aired by Zodiak Broadcasting Station (ZBS) and MBC Digital alleging that President Mutharika had departed Malawi – claims that were later established to be inaccurate and subsequently retracted by the broadcasters. Journalists, the Council insisted, cannot simply serve as a platform for guests to air unchecked claims.