Malawi’s Vice-President Joyce Banda, who is expected to be the next leader following the death of Bingu wa Mutharika, Friday afternoon met the diplomatic community at her Area 12 Residence in the capital, Lilongwe.
The diplomats included Chinese ambassador Pan Hejun, German ambassador Dr. Peter Woeste and EU ambassador Alexander Baum. Other diplomats were from Mozambique and Zambia.
The head of the British Department for International Development (DfID) Sarah Sanyahumbi and UN resident coordinator Richard Dictus were also seen at the residence.
Meanwhile, multiple sources interviewed on Friday night said Cabinet was earlier split on whether power should be handed over to Banda.
“The sticking issue is that Banda formed her own party, therefore, she is not eligible but the counter argument is that the President set the precedence when he ditched the UDF, a party that sponsored his candidature to form another party,” said one of officials close to the Cabinet deliberations.
“The growing suggestion now is that this should end up in court or the Vice President has to announce that she is going back to DPP.”
Mutharika died on Thursday following a cardiac arrest. He was airlifted to South Africa on Friday morning.
Government is yet to make an official announcement on Mutharika’s death.
