Grand Coalition petition yet to reach JB- Wakuda
President Joyce Banda’s special adviser on communication and political affairs Wakuda Kamanga says it will take time for the Head of State to respond to the petition which the Malawi civil rights organisations under Grand Coalition for the Defense of Democracy and Constitution presented to her through Blantyre city council’s officials after February 27 protests.
Kamanga told a local radio that up to now the Office of President has not received the petition that’s why the Banda was not be able to respond within the 14-day deadline with the protesters set.
“We can’t say where the petition is now because it passes through various offices before it reached the president. And considering that the president is a busy person it will depend on how free she will be when the petition reaches her,” he said.
Among other issues the petition calls for a full disclosure of all suspects in the Cashgate scandal for the sake of transparency and accountability.
It also calls for the immediate meeting of parliament to deliberate findings of the preliminary forensic audit report, the sale of presidential Jet and the continued politicization of maize donations by using public resources.
Kamanga couldn’t say whether the recent government revelation on the use of the proceeds from the jet sales is part of the response to the petition.
However, leaders of the Grand Coalition Voice Mhone said recently he thought Banda is delaying to respond because she is taking her time in scrutinizing each every and point raised in the petition before she came up with necessary response .
“We are not much worried about the passing of the 14-day ultimatum because we are sure that the president is critically looking at issues raised in the petition and we hope she will respond to it soon,” said Mhone without committing himself to next course of action to be taken should president fails to respond to the petition.
Government spokesperson Brown Mpinganjira had earlier said the coalition was bankrolled by “western elements that have destroyed Egypt and other countries and now wants to destroy Malawi.”
