State House says Chakwera has no plans to buy himself a private jet
Presidential press secretary Brian Banda has dismissed as “gossip” reports in social media platforms that government is buying a presidential jet for President Lazarus Chakwera.
Banda said the claims that Chakwera is intending to buy a presidential jet were hearsay.
This comes hot in the heels of social media reports that the government was buying a Gulfstream 4 GLF4 as a presidential aircraft for Chakwera.
“Chakwera believes in Malawians doing so much with too little and an issue of buying a presidential jet is not being discussed at the moment,” he said.
The presidential spokesman stressed that Chakwera is not keen to lavish lifestyle and will not be purchasing a presidential aircraft.
Ordinary Malawians, millions of whom struggle to get by on just $1-a-day, reacted with anger with speculation that Chakwera want an Air Force One-style jet – which could have set the impoverished nation back by million of dollars.
Late president Bingu wa Mutharika bought the presidential jet in 2009 at a cost of about $13.3m, claiming it was less expensive than leasing a plane every time he travelled. But it came to be seen as a symbol of African kleptocracy.
Former president Joyce Banda refused to travel in the jet since she took office in 2012, following Mutharika’s unexpected death and sold the 14-seat presidential jet, Dassault Falcon 900EX jet.
Malawi is ranked as one of the poorest countries in the world, with at least half the country living in poverty and an average life expectancy of 55.
we can not believe this because Chakwera does not live his word. He said he does not want police officers to line up all the way the road he will pass but all officers in Blantyre were deployed to the road side. His appointments are made on political and tribal considerations and his chief secretary is busy creating positions in government for MCP thugs such as Bendulo
sungalembe comment opanda kumutchula Bendulo…iwe nde suchila, ukumva kunyung’unya…nde kwa zaka five zikubwerazi ukhala ukubangulabe
Then let them come out in the open with who owns 7Q-MAG, a Gulfstream that was Malawi Registered whilst it was still sitting in the USA under escrow from an American Church Organisation. Do you see Road Traffic registering Sientas while they are still on the boat from Japan? Malawian Registration could only be done AFTER a Malawian Air Worthiness Inspection was carried out and suitable Inspectorship training provided to the DCA. Something fishy is going on, if they want to dismiss the story let them publicly present the documents for 7Q-MAG. We have a right to know whom is… Read more »
Her Excellency Dr Joyce Banda made a very big mistake by selling that Aircraft Bingu bought, it was Malawi government’s. We couldn’t have been having these problems.
Joyce Banda did not refuse to fly in it. She sold it off to her benefactors and looted the proceedings and then kept on flying in the same plane under the pretext of wellwishers. Nyasa Times [these are facts]