Kaliati tells JB: Return home, govt ready to give all benefits

Minister of Information Patricia Kaliati has asked former president Joyce Banda to return home and has since assured her that the government will give her all her benefits and privileges including security detail.

The development comes few days after some People’s Party (PP) officials attacked the government for failing to provide the former head of state with maximum security following a robbery attack at her Chinthence residence in Nkhatabay few days ago.

Kaliati is quoted by the Daily Times claiming the government is keen at upholding the constitution of the Republic of Malawi.

“Government is keen at upholding the constitution and we are ready to provide all the benefits and privileges beffiting any former president, unless you tell me that she sneaked into the country without our knowledge and then she was robbed,” she  is quoted as saying.

“Let her come back home and see if we will not live to what the constitution stipulates,” added the government spokesperson.

Kaliati went on to blame the former leader for failing to cooperate with the government in identifying her desirable official
residence a year ago.

“The nation is aware that the government made a number of offers to former president but she turned all of them down saying they were not befitting enough even when we asked them to identify a place where we can provide her all the security they failed to do that,” Kaliati said.

Meanwhile, PP Spokesperson Ken Msonda and a top official based in South Africa, Humphrey Mhango said the security of Banda and the nation at large is at stake.

“We are appealing to have her security detail reinstated as mandated by the constitution,” said Mhango adding that they will seek the intervention of African Union (AU) and other international bodies.

Msonda cited attacks at the house of Vice President Saulos Chilima in Mwanza and the house of Minister of Lands  Atupele Muluzi as a sign that the country is no longer safe.

Meanwhile, a top PP officials has confided in Nyasa Times that Banda is willing to come back home.