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| National |
| Ministers barred from Bingu’s press briefing |
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by
Bright Sonani and Gedion Munthali, 21 January 2005
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09:37:13
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Several Cabinet Ministers and their deputies were yesterday barred from entering the New State House in Lilongwe after it was discovered that their names were not on the list of those who were supposed to attend a press conference hosted by President Bingu wa Mutharika on his return from a five-day state visit to Taiwan.
Among those who were reportedly turned back were Minister of Labour and Vocational Training Lilian Patel, deputy for Transport and Public Works Roy Commsy, deputy Minister for Education Anna Kachikho and several other ministers and politicians.
Patel in an interview confirmed that she was not allowed to enter the State House.
“They just said my name was not on the list, probably several others were also turned back but I cannot specifically tell who they were,” she said.
Asked if it was the norm at the State House to have a list of names of ministers and their deputies before they are allowed entry to a function, Patel said this was her first time to attend a press conference at the House.
“We were going there thinking that as we do at the airport we would also allowed to go in and attend the press conference,” she said.
Commsy, however, said he went back on his own after he was told that some ministers and deputies were being turned back.
“Probably there was no space for everyone since it was a press conference,” he said.
Kachikho said she did not go to the House as she was late and thought it wise to just stay at home.
At the briefing, Mutharika boasted that he had not secured “pledges” but actual funding for the construction of “a purpose built Parliament”, and donations of equipment for the defence force and locomotives.
“Just one visit to Taiwan I have managed to secure all these things, not just pledges,” said Mutharika, describing the opposition from his critics as a waste of time and distraction from important business of state. “I have the capacity to develop this country, and I have the means — one trip and all these things have been gotten.”
Mutharika said he had secured about K230 million (about $2 million) for the construction of Parliament buildings in Lilongwe, and the money would be transferred into government accounts soon while construction would start once the rains subside.
“The two arms of government — the executive and the judiciary — are well housed. The legislature being another arm of government deserves to be housed properly as well. Therefore, construction will start once we get architectural drawings, and my target is that Parliament must be housed at the end of the year,” said Mutharika.
“This will be a purpose-built Parliament,” he assured.
Parliament moved out of the New State House end last year to pave way for Mutharika. Currently Parliamentary staff is housed in Chief M’mbelwa building in Lilongwe City Centre. A chamber which the National Assembly can use for its business it yet to be identified.
Clerk of Parliament Roosevelt Gondwe was not sure this week if Mutharika would allow the National Assembly use the chamber at his official house following recent developments when three people were allegedly caught trying to smuggle loaded firearms into Sanjika Palace.
Mutharika did not comment on the issue.
Fresh from a 14-hour flight from Singapore where he confirmed to have gone for a breather after “a hectic” schedule in Taiwan, Mutharika said he has also acquired four helicopters and four armoured boats for the Malawi Defence Force.
“The Malawi Defence Force needs to be well resourced to increase its patrols and be able to rise to the occasion adequately during times of disaster,” said Mutharika. “We need to increase patrols especially along the borders and the lake.”
He informed that Force Commander Marko Chiziko, who attended the afternoon press briefing, will soon be visiting Taiwan to arrange logistics for bringing the equipment.
The President said the Taiwanese government has also provided four locomotives to ply the Nacala corridor in order to ease congestion at the Indian Ocean port in Mozambique.
“The Ministry of Transport will arrange for their shipment,” he said.
Mutharika said a Taiwanese entrepreneur will be visiting Malawi to conduct a feasibility study for setting up a fertiliser plant, a PVC pipe manufacturing plant, a pharmaceutical company to specialise in the manufacturing of ARVs and a paint manufacturing company.
The only two pledges he brought from Taiwan were assistance for the construction of a multipurpose international conference complex which would include a five-star hotel in Lilongwe to be able to attract international meetings and Lilongwe University.
Mutharika declined to comment on political developments back home, including criticisms from his opponents, saying “these things waste my time.”
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