VP says Malawi should not host Africa summit
Malawi Vice President Joyce Banda has asked Pressident Bingu wa Mutharika to eat a humble pie and inform the African Union that the country which is facing economic challenges cannot afford to host the summit of Heads of State and Government scheduled in June.
Banda said the resources which would be used for the summit can be channelled to other pressing issues affecting the country such as buying medical drugs and paying civil servants.
Speaking at Kasiya in Lilongwe, Banda said government cannot afford to host 54 African countries when people in the country are facing a lot of problems including a looming hunger and that people in Lower Shire need relief following flooding.
“I humbly appeal to government not to host the coming African Union summit but rather use the money to supply drugs in hospitals, buy ambulances and improve our economy,” said the Vice President.
“There is no money to waste, there is still six months to go they can find another venue in the continent,”she added as the crowds cheered.
The Vice Presidente was speaking to thousands of people who braved a heavy downpour in Kasiya to hand over a house Orange Achievers movement of her People’s Party had built for an old lady at Kaphande Village in Mchinji.
The receipient is a wife to late Village Headman Kaphande, she is over 70 years old.
Malawi will be the venue for the 19th Ordinary Session of the AU Heads of State and Government scheduled for June 2011 where there will be fresh elections of AU Commisison chair post between the incumbent, Gabonese diplomat and politician Jean Ping, and South Africa’s candidate, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma.
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