Mutharika tries to clear his ‘mess’

Oct 04, 2015 Politics 113
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Malawi24
Peter Mutharika

Malawi’s state president, Peter Mutharika arrives home today with incessant efforts by the government to refute reports on the cost and conditions concerns of the chartered aircraft that Mutharika traveled on to Dubai on his way to New York, United States of America to attend the 70th session of the General Assembly of the United Nations.

The news has been circulating that Mutharika traveled in a luxurious Bombardier BD700-1A10 Global Express chartered Aircraft costing not less than K200 million.

Peter Mutharika
Mutharika’s government refusing reports of luxurious spending in the US.

In defending the claim, state house says that it is not true that the Air Craft that the President used to travel to Dubai en-route to New York is a Bombardier BD700-1A10 Global Express registration Number OE-IGS owned by UK Private Jet Charter as reported.

It however did not explain  how much government had spent on the jet despite urging the media to verify with the palace on the real cost of chartering the jet.

“State House is appealing to the People of Malawi to ignore any media reports on this matter, because they are wrong, untrue and which the architects of these reports, are aiming at inciting resentment of peaceful Malawians against the President and his DPP led government”, emphasized the statement.

This comes when there are reports that President traveled along with 121 delegates from the country to attend General Assembly of the United Nations a move which other stakeholders described as mismanagement of government funds.

Initially, Malawi24 had reported that the airfare price from Malawi to New York and viceversa was pat about $2,000 (about K1.4 million) for an individual in commercial plane while Mutharika used K300 million to charter his private jet.

With the number of 115 Mutharika is reported to have taken along government has spent about K157 million on transport alone.

Local media has reported that Malawi government  spent $250 (about K140,000) per night for each of the delegates to the UN for accommodation. For 115 people that have been invited to the Mutharika party, Malawi government spent about K18 million per night.

His arrival today will be a right time for Malawians to hear from the horses mouth on the entourage issue which has been in the media for a week now.