Joyce Banda

State President of the Republic of Malawi, I would tread carefully on the prospect of allowing Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir to attend the African Union Summit in July.

If I were Mrs Joyce Banda, I would realise that my administration needs to carefully look into the issue as the country risks paying a high price if it hosts the Sudanese leader who is wanted by the International Criminal Court for crimes against humanity.

I would realise that his previous visit to Malawi was one of the reasons the US Government held back the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) energy grant.

If only I were the State President, I would appreciate that I am on the horns of a dilemma in as far as the issue of al-Bashir is concerned.

I would further realise that the country paid a high price when it hosted the Sudanese leader during the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (Comesa) Heads of State Summit.

I would also appreciate that Malawians deserve to know whether their country will welcome al-Bashir.

That is if only I were Mrs Joyce Banda. Unfortunately, I am not her!