Malawi: Newspaper apologises for quoting dead source

Brian Ligomeka, editor of The Daily Times described the publication howler as 'editor's tears'.

"Such factual errors force editors to shed tears. As editor of The Daily Times, I admit this serious oversight and apologise without reservations to all aggrieved parties and our readers," said Ligomeka, in his posting to the online forum of the country's media practitioners, "as ethics demand, an apology in the next edition is always a must."

And indeed the Tuesday, 19 April edition of the newspaper carried an apology exactly on the same page three where the story had been published.

The paper was reporting on how visiting doctors from India managed to treat over 550 patients with different ailments within a short period of time.

Apology made to family, friends of deceased

"In our story titled 'Indian Doctors Conduct over 550 operations' published yesterday, we erroneously reported that Health Minister Moses Chirambo was speaking at reception in Lilongwe," read the apology. "As a matter of fact, it was the current Health Minister Professor David Mphande who was speaking at the reception and not the late Chirambo as reported in the story."

The statement then apologised to the family of the late Chirambo for this mistake.

"Any grievance or inconvenience caused to members of the family, relatives and friends of the late Chirambo; and all concerned parties and the general readership of our publication is sincerely regretted," the apology reads in part.

"We also appreciate the understanding of the family when we contacted them to offer our apologies," it added.