Malawi to buy another presidential jet

Malawi government has hinted that it will consider purchasing another president tial plane State House confirmed that President Peter Mutharika chartered the Jet from Malawi to Dubai where he connected on a commercial flight to the United States.

The State House has since justified the hiring of the jet to Dubai, saying it t was done for the convenience of the President in getting into America without further flight delays as the connection from Dubai is direct to the USA.

The costs of the travel bill have not been disclosed.

Critics questioned the cost effectiveness of chartering aircrafts for the president when he is on foreign trips.

Malawi government has hinted on the idea of purchasing another presidential jet as  Information Minister Kondwani Nankhumwa said expenses associated with chartering aircrafts for the President can be avoided by simply buying a presidential jet once the economy recovers.

“In all fairness every country needs a presidential jet for convenient travelling; and as government we still think it was a mistake to sell the jet that was bought,” said Nankhumwa told a local paper.

He said much as some people advocate for the president to be using public flights, there are several setbacks with that arrangement including loss of time.

“The President experiences a lot of inconveniences like time losses in flight connections, and hence affecting his programmes whenever he is on public flights,” Nankhumwa said.

Immediate past president Joyce Banda  sold the country’s 14-seat Dassault Falcon 900EX  presidential jet, as part of cost-cutting measures.

Her predecessor, the late Bingu wa Mutharika, was strongly criticised for buying the jet seven years ago at a cost of about $13.3m (£8.5m).

Donors cut aid to Malawi by $4.4 million after the purchase.

Malawi is one of the poorest countries in Africa.

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