Joyce Banda says ex-Malawi presidents underutilised: ‘I never lost in 2014, it was fraudulent elections’
Malawi’s first female president and the second in Africa, Joyce Banda, has confessed that she feels former presidents in the country are “being underutilised” but was quick to add that this is as a result of various political misunderstandings.
Malawi currently has, as of now, three retired presidents in the names of Bakili Muluzi, Peter Mutharika and Banda who ascended to the presidency following the death of President Bingu wa Mutharika in 2012.
Speaking in an interview with Times Television exclusive on Saturday, monitored by Nyasa Times, Banda said there “there is more former presidents can do.”
She told host Wonderful Msiska: “Former presidents are underutilised but the manner in which we are supposed to be used depends on the discretion of the sitting president.
“I have examples of how retired presidents are well used in such countries and neighbouring Tanzania and Ghana. In Ghana, for example, the sitting president actually invites former presidents for discussions of national issues.”
But Banda said she was busy with what she was doing and that she was satisfied with what she had delivered during her two years as President of Malawi.
“I am very busy. I am very busy with the work I am doing at the Joyce Banda Foundation,” she pointed out.
“ The fact that that I am able to help out on making sure people have safe water and ensuring that people with HIV/AIDS are living positively gives me a lot of satisfaction. Actually, right now I am busy making face masks that are being freely distributed across the country,” she said.
Banda, however, gave an emotional response when asked how she felt losing the 2014 presidential election.
“I did not lose that election. And this issue we must never discuss it again. You saw the tippex in the just nullified election, you think there was no tippex in 2014?”
Future for Peoples Party, Tonse Alliance
The 70-year old said she would remain a member of the People’s Party (PP) to the end, but was also quick to say that she wanted the party to be left in good hands.
“I am getting old and I have done my part both as Head of State and PP leader. But what I want is that a perfect succession plan be done so that someone else takes the party to greater heights,” she said.
On the the performance of the Tonse government, Banda said she was so far satisfied with its performance.
“The combination of Lazarus Chakwera and Saulos Chilima is great and splendid. One is meek and humble who wants to work with everyone for the best of this country while the other one is a doer working on the ground,” said Banda.
But she mentioned that the Chakwera-Chilima government could only be hampered by those that are in the alliance.
“My worry is us who surround the two. Otherwise they cannot fail,” she said.
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Joyce Banda find something to do instead of complaining that you are being left out by current leaders. When you were president, did you utilise Muluzi? No. So why are you thinking you should be considered instead of enjoying your life. Its jot like football where in future a player may want to become a coach, but fir a former president to start complaining you are embarrassing us. STOP IT.
Mama please don’t embarrass yourself. You are former President okay agreed but you are a non entity now. What remains is for you to be investigated for your corrupt dealings like with Paramount and spend the rest of your life at Zomba Central Prison. You are crooked. Poor Justice Banda he trails along behind you like he is sleep walking.
But you weren’t anywhere near a winner madam. A least Chakwera can say he never lost.
Kkkkkkkkk tangovomerezani kuti 2014 mnalephera
Mzingoti thank you to 50+1
DPP yikanampondaso Chakwera ndi chilima.
How do you utilise a former president who runs outside the country in hiding after losing power?
WOKIUBA UYU.AKUTI AKUPANGA MA MASK FOR FREE DISTRIBUTION?I THOUGHT SHE SAID THERE IS NO COVID-19.
Where is the Jet Bingu bought? you obese, cashgate dunderhead of a woman.
true JB, you did not lose but like all previous elections 2014 was also a fraudulent election. APM is not worthy to be called former president because he was a fraud
Mutukwanitsa a cha mbuyanu zazii..go and mop the lake with your corrupt Tumbuka judges
Uchila chule iwe.
Namalila, a opposition khalani chete
The problem with JB is that from 2012 after the demise of Bingu, she never wanted to work with MCP. She had an opportunity to change the electoral laws and how to count votes. Working with MCP did not need to give them Ministeral positions. MCP would have given her numbers change some of the bad things brought by Bakili Muluzi and APM. She chose to work with enemies who crucified her in 2014. All of them including Brown Mpinganjira ran away from her. JB made a serious political miscalculation. Anyway JB, MCP, UTM, FP, etc never gave up and… Read more »
Of the three retired presidents the two male presidents are useless and crooks. BM had no agenda for Malawi apart from stealing. Running a country needs serious people. How serious was Muluzi when he had a cabinet of 48 ministers including Dumbo Lemani?
Kape iwe udziwa chani