Jappie’s positive spin on Malawi UN delegation fails: State House refutes airline story

Information Minister Jappie Mhango attempt to defend Malawi government by putting a positive spin on the bloated delegation to United Nation in New York, failed a big test when he organised an interview on MBC TV.

Mhango, who is government spokesman, attempted to spin the information that the country had a bloated entrouge to UN, saying President Peter Mutharika only approved 18-member delegation to accompany him, which was paid by government and that others were sponsored by “well-wishers.”

Human rights campaigner Billy Mayaya pointed out that claims that other members were paid by some sponsors and not from government account is a “blue lie”.

“If the Government can blatantly lie and say that the donors funded such buffoonery in the light of Cashgate, then they are under the assumption that Malawians were born yesterday,” said Mayaya.

An observer of Mhango’s television interview noted the minister saying “while we were campaigning for DPP” when in actual fact he came in as an independent MP.

Mhango was also faulted for saying he would not comment on sectoral issues (ministries) but only on issues of national importance, saying that did not give the confidence as government spokesman.

No Bombadier

Meanwhile, State House press office issued a statement signed by Chikondi Juma refuting that Mutharika traveled to Dubai en-route to the UNGA using a Bombardier BD700-1A10 Global Express registration number OE-IGS owned by UK Private Jet Charter at a cost of not less than 200 million Kwacha. The trip would have cost K41 million had the president used a commercial flight.

According to State House, Mutharika used a Jet owned by Execu-Jet of South Africa which has the registration number OE-IGS.

The statement faulted Zodiak Broadcasting Station (ZBS) for reporting about the Bombadier plane, saying their report was wrong and unverified information.

“For its failure to verify the information it had, and going ahead to publish wrong information ,  ZBS is regrettably forcing us to conclude to  that the station has hatred for the current government and the current president,” the statement said .