Renowned legal expert Khumbo Bonzoe Soko has issued a strong warning to social media propagandists who are quick to tarnish the reputations of newly appointed officials in various government institutions.
Social media platforms, particularly Facebook, have recently been flooded with defamatory posts targeting innocent Malawians who have earned well-deserved appointments to influential positions. Among those targeted are Attorney General Frank Mbeta, a young and accomplished legal mind, and Speaker of Parliament Sameer Suleman, a versatile and seasoned lawmaker.
The smear campaign has not spared Minister of State Alfred Gangata, Minister of Foreign Affairs George Chaponda, and Minister of Finance Joseph Mwanamvekha. These officials have been portrayed as criminals, with some posts even alleging they carry bail receipts in their pockets.
Soko, who writes openly under his real name on Facebook, cautioned in a post today that it is dangerous to assume that anyone facing criminal charges should be automatically disqualified from public office.
“This presumes that all criminal cases are pursued in the public interest [and based on credible evidence capable of securing a conviction],” he wrote. “Unfortunately, that is not always the case. Many factors can influence the decision to prosecute, and strong evidence may not even be one of them. I have seen prosecutors initiate proceedings with barely any evidence. Some cases begin and end without the defence counsel asking a single question to a government witness.”
He continued: “There are hopeless cases that are still pursued with vigour and drama. Some court judgments have even described such prosecutions as ‘persecution.’ It can get that low, and that bad.”
Soko, a private practice lawyer, emphasised how easy it is for someone to be labeled an ‘accused person,’ noting that the State can initiate charges against virtually anyone and worry about the evidence later.
“That is why arresting someone is the easy part. Securing a conviction is another matter entirely,” he added.
In a WhatsApp group discussion, a group of lawyers expressed concern over the growing trend of character assassination on social media, particularly targeting government appointees whose only “offence” was accepting their new roles.
The lawyers noted that their colleague, Frank Mbeta, has been unfairly maligned, with baseless allegations being presented as facts.
One private sector lawyer dismissed claims that Mbeta was closely associated with former Attorney General Thabo Chakaka-Nyirenda or that he used his private law firm to advance government interests. Even more absurd, the lawyer said, were suggestions that Mbeta is aligned with politicians Richard Chimwendo Banda and Eisenhower Mkaka.
“To anyone who truly knows Mbeta, these claims are laughable,” the lawyer said. “He was a staunch opponent of the previous Malawi Congress Party regime. He represented the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) in several high-profile court cases, including the landmark elections case, and served as legal counsel to DPP leader Peter Mutharika and other senior party officials. If there is one lawyer who has remained loyal to the DPP through thick and thin, it is Mbeta. Linking him to the MCP is not just misguided, it is pure witchcraft.”
The majority of people who commented on the malicious Facebook posts expressed little surprise, noting that the individuals being targeted now occupy influential and highly coveted positions, roles many others had aspired to.
“A President does not just wake up one day and appoint someone to such key positions without thorough research or intelligence. He knows the kind of people he wants to work with and understands their capabilities. No amount of propaganda will change that. Some individuals may be sent to spread these malicious posts, but they should know, it only fuels the determination of these new appointees to serve even more diligently,” remarked one participant.
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