Bravo Peter Mutharika, but…
For once I want to applaud President Peter Mutharika for cancelling the Third India-Africa Forum Summit (IAFS III) trip. It was a last-minute call as he was expected to leave yesterday for New Delhi where the summit is taking place.
I am happy that at least the President has come to his senses that he needs to attend to pertinent issues. I am sure his In-Tray at Capital Hill is filled to the brim. That paperwork needs your attention Mr. President.
During campaign time, APM promised us Malawians that he will not be gallivanting like his predecessor Joyce Banda who jumped from one place to another, distributing maize, goats and whatever she could lay her hands on. Most of us were happy with that thinking because we knew that money would be saved—we are aware of how much such travels drain government coffers. Some of the meetings should, indeed, be delegated.
But recently APM has not been any different from JB. He has been attending functions that he could have delegated a PS, not even a minister.
The cancellation of the trip to India has come at a time when many Malawians questioned the President’s decision to have a larger than life entourage to the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). I think he is not inconsiderate after all, he listens.
But allow me to raise my suspicions. State House press secretary Gerald Viola told the media on Friday that the President has cancelled the India trip because he has important things to do, one of which is opening the 46th Session of Parliament.
Now, I think Viola is slowly, but surely becoming a habitual half-truth teller and a risk to the communication system of State House.
Viola would have us believe that the President has cancelled the trip because he wants to open Parliament meeting. That’s not true, I think. Come to think of it, the India summit is taking place from October 26-29 while Parliament is opening on November 6—a good one week later.
I am finding it hard to believe this. However, I am glad that whatever the reason, at least the President will not be taking with him a large entourage to India. Money has been saved.
