Bingu blows US$337,000 on foreign trip
As the Malawi economy continues to suffocate due to an acute forex shortage, President Dr Bingu wa Mutharika has drawn US$337,000 for his trip to Italy, Trinidad and Tobago as well as Spain.
The money has been drawn on government accounts at National Bank, cleared through the Reserve Bank of Malawi, Nyasa Times understands.
A source at the Government Treasury has told Nyasa Times that the President has been excessive in drawing such a huge amount especially considering the forex shortage in the country.
“US$337,000 has been drawn by the President to cover the trip and his entrounge and this is unprecedented in such difficult forex shortage times,” said the well-placed source.
Mutharika left the country on Sunday for Rome, Italy to attend the World Food summit organized by the United Nation’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
On departure, President Mutharika disclosed that from Rome, he will proceed to the islands of Trinidad and Tobago for this year’s Commonwealth Summit.
The Commonwealth is a grouping mainly of countries formerly colonized by the United Kingdom. Queen Elizabeth II is the symbolic head of the multi-national organization.
The President left in the new presidential jet which has been purchased at the price of about US$15 million. This transaction, however, is shrouded in secrecy.
Finance Minister Ken Kandodo could not comment on any of these matters, nor would new Secretary to the Treasury, Joseph Mwanamvekha, until recently Chairman of the president’s Mulhako wa Alhomwe ethnic organization.
I see no problem with the HE’s important trips and he really deserves good treatment. He is there for our own benefits as a nation. But I would be worried if the claim on money is more than days required or if the trip ends on the way I would expect refunds to be made on the balance. Otherwise, it is ok with me.
The fact that its the amount was disclosed means the government is practicing transparency. THIS IS GOOD! Unlike previous administrations.
Secondly, If Malawi be part and parcel of the global political economy [OF WHICH WE DESPERATELY NEED] then these trips will be needed. WE GAIN MORE FROM THE PRESIDENTS EFFORT TO GET MALAWI ON THE GLOBAL STAGE THAN THE $300+ we are complaining about! Furthermore other countries spend millions a trip so maybe we should be less skeptical.
By the way the Jet is for the STATE!!! Not Bingu’s. Its a demn investment people!!! If you become president, you will need it!
There is nothing wrong with this sort of expenditure as long as is within his enttlements.I dont expect the whole president to suffer in the name patriotism.The problem with we malawians are fond of jealousy. Campaign hard to become a president not this sort of mudslinging GOD can not bless you.
patriotism must start from top down, other wise how can he tell us to be patriotic when he does not walk the talk.
This kind of ignorance is whats setting our country backwards. Just because one is a president, it doesnt give you the right to go on a spending spree. This is not mudslinging, its poor judgement on Bingu’s part, he is living beyond our country’s means.
For your own information Bwanamlakho the point of being a president is not to spend tax payers money aimlessly, please refrain from making pointless & ignorant comments before thinking through.
We have seen many presidents travelling by commercial planes. Is there any problem with our president if he did the same? Akufuma azikawala on the expense of Malawians. This is the money the EU is infatuated to freeze. They were meant to alliviate poverty but they see our irresponsible leaders shining, while Mmizimu anthu adakatuwabe no improvement. Shame on those who say they don’t have any problem with the expenditures done by the government.Retards, Limited minds exposing your country to the world what will that do with the poor Malawians.
I travel in first & business class on long routes and I am a nobody. But I could not imagine siting next to head of state in the cabin cubicles & sharing a drink with him where appropriate. Commercial planes should never be an option for any head of state; a lot (security, dignity) is compromised when head of state flies on commercial flight. The only way forward is to charter a plane, after all the money is pre- budgeted
UDF BOMA
No problem with chartering a plane, but what do you say about bloeing all that amount of money for a less than 30minutes presentation in Italy where only Agriculture ministers from other countries attended! can we afford such a luxury for a presentation lasting 30 30 minutes only, where by the Agric Minister could have ably represented the president?
at this tym when za land has no forex some1 blown forex on some useless trips!!!
idyani 2014 we r puting mmbava zina!!!!!
Do you know that US$337,000 is only MWK47million?
Gentlemen, please check how much it costs to Charter a plane and then see if it makes sense for the President to have his own jet
http://www.jets.com/ check on how much it costs to have the Jet for 24 hours.
I agree with you. I think it’s more costly to charter a plane than to have presidential plane. Vuto ifeyo, tikuyang’ana pamwamba pokha basi.
This is besides the point-we did not need the plane in the first place. See just because we have the plane he starts globe trotting. Do you think if we did not have a plane he could not have consulted further to see what the meeting attendees would be like? Now look K47M yadutsatu just for a 30 minute meeting.
Here is case of ndaziona ndidye basi!!!!
UDF Boma you are off the mark. Commercial flights are OK for Presidents. They do not have to que up like you and me. They have special diplomatic passports and that entitles them to the best treatment at any airport. They don’t sit in the economy class. They seat in first class.
It’s only African despots who want to live above their means. Believe me, sikuti akapita kunja amashaina. At these international meetings the prestige of a President does not depend on whether he came on a jet or not. It depends on the social status of his country. In fact, if the President of Somalia or malawi comes on a jet, it is a source of shame and embarrasment. People are like, he rules over flea-infested peasants, half of his country’s budget comes from donors, so how come he’s coming on a jet? He must be one of those African despots.
But I like one comment here. What are the benefits from this trip? Can anybody quantify the benefits for Malawi? Indeed if the benefits outweigh the costs, then let him go.
Gaga
Get a five from me. Loud and clear.
azikwera its in his entitlement
Bingu is turning out to be a bad president, and he is not right for Malawi.
His lack of focus on economic development, increased relationship with Mugabe and loaning him $100M, blowing tax payers money on a private jet, and the overpaying for the 22 Mercedes Benz which in turn caused a forex shortage in the now this excessive expenditure, just shows that his intentions are not for uplifting the lives of people of Malawi.
He is surrounding himself with Yes Men who will not have constructive criticism and oppose his rediculous ideas & idiologies, Malawi needs to rise up and oppose the continuation of this nonsense.