Khumbo acting President, no vacuum as JB is in USA – Malawi gov’t
Vice President Khumbo Kachali is entrusted with the role as acting head of state President Joyce Banda is on tour of duty in the United States, Malawi government spokesman has said.
Minister of Information Moses Kunkuyu, who is also government spokesman, said in a statement made available to Nyasa Times on Tuesday that there is no leadership vacuum as implied by opposition DPP president Peter Mutharika.
Mutharika said Banda should return to “provide leadership” in dealing with what he called “corruption crisis “in the country.
But Kunkuyu said Mutharika’s call is “sheer portrayal of ignorance and disregard of the law of the land on the roles other constitutionally established offices like the Office of the Vice President play in such scenarios.”
The government spokesman added: “Again, it shows some signs are refusing to dump the past when Vice Presidents’ offices were reduced to mere spectators and cursed to complete villains.”
Minister of Information pointed out that the PP administration and President Banda respect the Office of the Vice President and its functions.
“To assume that the country faces a leadership vacuum is not only illogical but also misplaced and it is wrong to deprive Malawians of the chance to shape embrace and appreciate this constitutionally recognized model of leadership which is the beginning of healthy politics for our country,” said the statement.
The government spokesman assured Malawians that they have functional offices that take control of national matters in the absence of the Head of State.
“This is contrary to the strange conduct of some past presidents [late Bingu wa Mutharika] who could go on a month long holiday even when they had completely paralyzed the Office of the Vice President; creating the now-feared leadership vacuum,” said the statement.
Government said wishing the President back from the United Nations General Assembly in United States of America to attend to matters at home is “total disrespect for a constitutionally instituted government and its agencies that are always at work.”
