‘Come home and prove your innocence’, Joyce Banda told

Advertisement

She continues to claim that the current regime wants to arrest her and has not yet provided her retirement package, but ex Malawi President Joyce Banda is being called upon to come back from her ‘self-imposed exile’ to clear her image on her feared involvement in the Cashgate scandal.

Banda has continuously  hinted that she is  not coming back to Malawi anytime soon because of political arrests that await her hinted that it remains paramount for President Peter Mutharika to do his job and not talk bad about her.

Christopher Mzomera Ngwira
Ngwira: Says Banda need to come back home.

But this time around vocal northern region provincial chairperson, Christopher Nzomera Ngwira who was behind a move that ousted Banda for Khumbo Kachali before it got rescinded wants the President to come to face her critics.

Banda has been now implicated three times by Cashgate convicts as having been the one who championed the scandal which dented her image during her era; a regime she gave away to Mutharika in a disputed poll last year.

When speaking to Zodiak’s Maganizo Mazeze on Sunday, Ngwira argued that despite the fact that the Peoples Party (PP) needs her to lead the party, it is something of paramount importance that Banda come back home to clear the mess her name has worn.

”You see, Banda is innocent. She personally told me that she never took part in any of the acclaimed theft. She asked me and the other officials to concentrate on the work.”said Ngwira before rendering a coy question on whether that response was enough to vindicate the ex Malawi President.

However, Banda is still not coming to Malawi as she cliams that the Mutharika led government intends to politically haunt her, something which the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) led government has played down.

Recently, Mutharika said claims made by Banda that she was not been given her retirement package were insincere and aims at denting his image toward donors.

Joyce Banda
Banda: Being asked to come back home.

“I wish to inform the public that numerous claims purportedly made by the former President Dr Joyce Banda that she is failing to return to Malawi because she is being denied retirement benefits, including accommodation and security, are insincere.”

“Government has duly provided to Banda the requirements of a retired President as stipulated by the President’s (Salaries and Benefits) Act,” reads part of the post.

On Banda’s gratuity, Mutharika said the former president has already received a tax free lump sum amounting to K30 million comprising MK12 million and MK18 million as gratuity in her capacity as former vice president and former president, respectively.

However, Mutharika admitted that the former president is yet to start receiving her monthly pension which he says is currently being processed by the Director of Pensions at the Accountant General’s office.

According to Mutharika, Banda was also offered several houses to choose from in some affluent neighborhoods of the capital city but she rejected most of them.

Mutharika also said Banda has been provided with seven police officers in accordance with the President’s (Salaries and Benefits) Act.

The battle between the two did not just end in the elections, it surely rages on.