JB hints at assets

President Joyce Banda yesterday hinted at how much wealth she had before rising to the presidency, first time since the national battle for her assets to be laid bare started.

“Nthawi imeneyo ndinati kusuzumila mu maakaunti aboma ine kudabwa kuti akaunti ya ine ngati wa geni wakalekale ili bwinonso [When I became President, I checked government accounts. There was almost nothing. I noted I was richer than the government itself],” said Banda in Dowa.

She went on to claim that she has managed to improve the Malawi economy, claiming in 2012, the economy grew by 1.8 percent, but her projection now puts the likely growth at  six percent.

Meanwhile, the President continues to refuse that her own assets should be publicly declared for all to see.

Commenting on speculation surrounding the closure of Chileka International Airport, the President justified the closure of the airport in Blantyre following a suspicious plane that landed when the airport remained shut.

“The airport needed to be closed. This was to prevent accidents, including fire,” she said.

Banda claimed the construction of another international airport terminal at Chileka and the establishment of Malawian Airlines are among achievements she has accomplished in two years.

Malawian Airlines chief executive officer Tewolde  GebreMariam has since warned that the airline might not last if government does not intervene  on fuel pricing.

“Malawi has one of the highest fuel prices in Africa and I don’t see any justifiable reason for this. [But] this young baby [the Malawian Airline  [will not sustain its operation if this issue is not addressed,” he said.

The President assured GebreMariam that the situation would improve.