Malawi Government has said Vice-President Joyce Banda cannot take over from fallen President Bingu wa Mutharika because she formed her own party.This is despite the fact that Mutharika ditched the United Democratic Front (UDF) which sponsored his candidature to form the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP).
Addressing the media in Malawi’s capital, Lilongwe, on Friday night, Information Minister Patricia Kaliati refused to comment on whether Mutharika is dead or alive, arguing government will make a statement on Saturday.
But medical sources earlier confirmed to Nation Online that Mutharika was brought to Kamuzu Central Hospital in Lilongwe already dead following a cardiac arrest on Thursday.
During the briefing, Kaliati said government is disappointed with statements made by the Veep and former president Bakili Muluzi earlier in the day on the constitutional requirement that the VP takes over when a sitting president becomes incapacitated or dies.
She said Banda and Muluzi are misleading the nation as there is no vacancy in the presidency at the moment.
She further refuted allegations that Parliament will meet on Tuesday next week to block Banda from becoming the next Head of State.
She called on all Malawians to remain calm and not to listen to any sources of information apart from government.
“Only government has authority and responsibility to explain the condition of the President,†she says.
During the press briefing, Kaliati was in the company of Deputy Minister in the President’s office Nicholas Dausi, Minister of Health Jean Kalirani, Local Government Minister Henry Mussa, Minister of Youth Development and Sports Symon Vuwa Kaunda and Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Kondwani Nakhumwa who chaired the press conference.
They did not entertain any questions from the press.
