Joyce Banda will not resign, Mpinganjira trashes activists
Malawi President Joyce Banda will not be stampeded by some activists calling her to resign from her office in respect of Section 80(7) (e) which bars a person from nomination as a President or First Vice-President if he/she holds a public office, government spokesman has challenged.
Minister of Information and Civic Education, Brown Mpinganjira, who is the government spokesman told a news conference in Lilongwe on Wednesday said the laws of the land are clear on the matter and Banda cannot abdicate from her office.
The activists, Billy Mayaya, Mabvuto Bamusi, Luck Mbewe, Habiba Osman and Phillip Kamangira and Leon Matanda Called for Banda’s resignation or electoral officials to disqualify her at a news confrence in Lilongwe on Tuesday.
Mpinganjira, who accused the opposition parties of fronting the activists, challenged the resignation call of President Banda as lacking merit.
“This is impractical; the constitution has explained very clearly that the seating President seizes to be a leader of a country once a new President has been sworn in,” Mpinganjira said.
He further said: “In this regard, President Dr. Joyce Banda will not be forced until such a time when we have a new president something which could happen this year, in five years’ time or even ten years to come.”
Mpinganjira visibly angry, asked activist to revisit the constitution and have a clear interpretation on what it states about the seating President especially in regards to when he/she expresses interests to contest in the elections.
The activists have also called upon Banda’s running mate Soften Gwen we to resign as Minister of Trade and Industries.
Minister of Justice, Fahad Sassanid also quashed the claim by civil society organizations and requested them to clearly understand what the constitution states as they could be ignorant of the laws.
Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) chairperson Maxon Mbendera is on record saying there cannot be a power vacuum.
