Khester Utembe Accused of Posing as a Journalist to Pressure Investors

Khester Utembe is facing allegations that he falsely presented himself as a reporter for Malawian online publications and sought money from foreign investors to prevent damaging stories from appearing. The claims have not been proven, and the article says no criminal charges against him had been confirmed at the time of publication. According to sources cited by The Maravi Post, Utembe allegedly approached investors involved in business, land and mining disputes, claiming he was investigating them on behalf of outlets including Nyasa Times and The Maravi Post. He is accused of saying that a story about them was ready to publish, then offering to stop it in return for payment. Both publications reportedly denied that Utembe worked for them or had permission to report, solicit information or represent their newsrooms. A senior editorial source said people contacted by someone claiming to work for Nyasa Times should ask for identification and verify the claim with the outlet. The source also stressed that the publication does not accept money to suppress stories. One investor, whose identity was withheld because of concern about possible reprisals, told the outlet that Utembe had claimed to be a Nyasa Times journalist and threatened to publish a story unless the investor cooperated. The investor said the approach raised suspicions. The report did not establish how many people may have been contacted or whether anyone paid. Media Council of Malawi official Phillip Chinkhokwe advised businesspeople and other sources to confirm a person's credentials directly with the relevant media house or the council before engaging or paying. He said verification is a straightforward safeguard and that a genuine journalist should not object to it. Utembe's response was not included in the report. The allegations remain unverified, and the article offered no account from him.