Mutharika charters jet for UN meet as Malawi economy continues to shrink
President Peter Mutharika on Thursday left Malawi for United States in a chartered presidential jet, a complete departure from his promises that the government would use public resources prudently amid continued worsening economic conditions.
It was not immediately known how much the government has paid for the charted plane as such bills are kept under wraps at Kamuzu Palace.
He has also left the country for the UN general assembly without telling Malawians how many people are on his entourage and how much the trip will cost the tax payer.
Several people who have made it to the UN have left in different times to disguise Malawians on the bloated delegation.
Last year the president took with him an irrelevant to the summit staggering entourage of 116 people and Foreign Affairs minister Francis Kasaila said the entourage this year is “reduced” saying the government learnt lessons last year.
Speaking at Kamuzu International Airport in Lilongwe on departure, Mutharika said discussions this year at the UN meeting will centre on Sustainable Development Goals.
He said delegates, most of whom are heads of state, will evaluate which goals have been achieved and which ones have not been achieved and why.
In addition, he said the delegates will be looking at issues of AIDS, youth, women, investment, trade and international cooperation.
kodi a Malawi mumafuna chiyani’ president akakhala chete mukuti iai sakulankhula, akanakhalanso mukadamangokuwakuwa. Chonde otsutsa yesetsani kumatsutsa zopititsa dziko pa tsogolo. Nthawi ya jb nobody question her even NGOs where you those days” Chonde konzani mavuto azipani zanu kaye. Kuyendetsa boma its serious business. Investors are on the way, have spirit of patience, enanu mwatumidwa kuti muyankhulilire ena ake.
For the security of the President, it makes sense to use a chartered plane
Osamangotukwana apa mudzinena kuti inu mumafuna ayende pachani? Don’t just criticise, offer alternatives. So you want Malawi to pull out of the United Nations? please MCP gurus for once show us your intelligence
He was supposed to send the VP with a delegation of 6 people on a commercial flight and use the money to solve the numerous problems rocking the country – after all, it is not his money but it belongs to Malawians – but because he is DULL
Far much as I dont support the leadership and governance style of this guy but i feel its a shame for a head of state to travel on commercial airlines .The president irrespective of what soever deserves to travel in a private jet which once we hard but due to myopic non visionary leadership of his predecessor ,the jet was sold.Its like telling the chief executive officer of a company to be using public transport. Ofcourse this man has no clue on running the affairs of the state like the way our neighboring serious presidents are doing but by virtue… Read more »
Nonse mukuti mmati ayenda pansi ndinu mbuzi za anthu hope u have generators and waters tanks in your yards…kadziko kolira ngati aka nde nkumati mmffweeemmfwee
Midnight Six thief
STATEHOUSE,you are an idiotic fool,a brainless moron.US$493 million and you say it is a meagre figure for the poorest nation in the world,even a deranged person would not say so,you are a shaming Malawians at best.By the way,have you been in school? I hope not,then it is not your fault.
Far much as I dont support the leadership and governance style of this guy but i feel its a shame for a head of state to travel on commercial airlines .The president irrespective of what soever deserves to travel in a private jet which once we hard but due to myopic non visionary leadership of his predecessor ,the jet was sold.Its like telling the chief executive officer of a company to be using public transport. Ofcourse this man has no clue on running the affairs of the state like the way our neighboring serious presidents are doing but by virtue… Read more »
This president of ours is an idiot. He doesn’t listen he doesn’t act. what a shame
a malawi osamaganiza ngati a pumbwa… kodi mumafuna akwere kabanza ? mmxxxii !!
Why does he go there in the first place as if Malawi would receive a penalty if represented by Chilima and Foriegn Affairs Minister? This guy goes there every year and in his previous trips, he had many engagements with US business gurus but non of them has invested in this country. This guy should just stop wasting money that could have been used on improving the lives of our people. Imagine if the money he wasted in 2014 and 2015 was used to buy hospital equipment eg X-ray or MRI Scanners, what an improvement would there be in assisting… Read more »