Malawi Pres Joyce Banda denies resigning: Govt to probe authors of ‘treasonous’ letter
Malawi President Dr Joyce Banda has denied rumors that she would resign from her position.
The reports about President Banda resignation have circulated this week when the country was at a standstill with the civil servants strike.
In a letter purportedly written to President Banda to the Speaker of Parliament, which went viral on social media, the Malawi leader allegedly advised the Speaker that she is no longer able to execute her executive duties due to alleged “health problems”.
The letter dated 20th February 2013, cites high blood pressure and other health concerns as the reasons for the president being unable to effectively execute the duties of her office.
But State House on Friday said it is deeply dismayed by the letter, saying it is fake and forged.
The letter alleges Dr Banda had decided to resign following alleged “doctors’ advice”.
Presidential Press Officer Tusekele Mwanyongo said in a statement made available to Nyasa Times that at no time has President Banda” explicitly or implicitly resigned as Malawi’s Head of State.”
The State House believes the alleged resignation letter is the work of “a desperate confusionists, who are bent on bringing disorder in this country. “
The statement reads in part: “The architects of the letter are people who cannot appreciate the peace and order currently prevailing in this country under the able leadership of Her Excellency Dr. Joyce Banda. They are prepared to stoop so low as to break the law just to bring about anarchy for their own selfish ends.”
The State House said it is of the strong view that the letter is a criminal act, “which borders on treason, particularly when the architects of the letter had to forge the signature of the Head of the State.”
Mwanyongo said “Malawi Government will surely not sit back and watch whilst these misguided individuals cross legal boundaries to further their sinister motives.”
He said the government, through appropriate law enforcing agencies, is meanwhile taking all measures to investigate the origin of the letter, the source of the false rumours.
“The nation is being assured that all persons involved in this criminal, unpatriotic and malicious act will be brought to book,” he added.
Meanwhile, President Banda is attending an Africa-American summit in Equatorial Guinea. She left on Thursday by a private jet sent by E. Guinea’s President.
Before her departure on Thursday, the President justified her three-day trip, saying it is expected to improve the bilateral relations between African and South American countries.
State House announced that President Banda will return on Saturrday.
The President is expected to arrive through Chileka Airport in Blantyre at 2PM, according to State House.
