I’m from Thyolo by birth, Thoko Banda stresses
Thoko Banda, son to former cabinet minister, the late Aleke Banda, who has appointed to be Malawi ambassador to EU in Brussels has maintained his links to Thyolo, saying he is a bonafide citizen of the President’s home citizen having been born there.
The fifty-year-old Banda has also clarified on his credentials.
Public Appointments Committee sources said Banda was asked during interviews by the chairman Lingstone Belekanya on his home district and he mentioned Thyolo as indicated in his CV.
“As my resume also shows, I was born on 1st April 1964 in the Thyolo District of Malawi. All this information is publicly available,” Banda said in a statement he emailed Nyasa Times.
Banda also rejected reports that he claimed to have attended or obtained qualification from, Ohio University.
“I have never, at any point in time, claimed to have attended, or obtained any qualification from, Ohio University,” he said.
He explained: “What is correct, and what is stated in my resume, is that I studied at the College of Wooster in the US State of Ohio where I obtained a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science in 1990.”
Banda warned Nyasa Times that he will instruct his lawyer Dr Dan Kuwali “to institute legal proceedings” should there be more “libellous stories aimed at tarnishing my name and image.”
During the campaign for the May 20, 2014 tripartite election Banda, who initially showed interest to contest as an independent presidential candidate, campaigned for the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and endorsed Arthur Peter Mutharika.
Banda was one of the speakers during the DPP Manifesto Launch where he spoke on ethos of effective leadership.
His initial attempt to join forces with United Democratic Front’s (UDF) Atupele Muluzi failed apparently after his ambition to be runningmate were rejected by the party.
The appointment in the diplomatic services is seen as Mutharika returning the favor to Banda. Some commentators have also speculated that the appointment could be a calculated move by the Mutharika camp to buy positive editorials in the Nation newspapers. Banda’s family owns the Nation Publication Limited (NPL) which was founded by his father Aleke.
But sources say Aleke did not highlight Thoko Banda in his will and that stakes at NPL are with Mbumba Banda but Thoko has engaged a legal battle to claim a share in the Aleke’s business empire.
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