Look at larger picture on firings—JB

Malawi President Joyce Banda on Tuesday said people that are accusing her of unjustifiably firing some top government officials should look at the larger picture.

The President, speaking at an elevation of T/A Mkanda of Mchinji to senior chief, said former Reserve Bank of Malawi (RBM) governor [Dr. Perks Ligoya] and ex-chief Immigration officer [Elvis Thodi] came from Thyolo.

Banda argued she replaced the two with officers from Thyolo, hence she does not understand why she is receiving accusations [of targeting a tribe].

Banda fired Ligoya and Thodi after her ascendancy to the presidency following the death of her predecessor Bingu wa Mutharika on April 5. Thodi was dismissed a month before expiry of his contract while Ligoya’s contract was also curtailed.

Mutharika, who appointed the two, came from Thyolo.

President Banda appealed to Malawians to critically look at the changes she is making, stressing there is no room for appointments that the previous regime was making.

The Malawi Law Society (MLS) in a statement issued last week noted with concern some apparent irregularities that have accompanied the appointment and removal of certain public officers or heads of public bodies.

MLS, commenting on general issues, said while affirming that the relevant authorities have powers to appoint and remove holders of diverse public offices, it is expected the dictates of the law will be fully complied with in doing so.

Banda also talked of the Malawi-Tanzania border dispute, blaming the Tanzania media for sensationalising the issue.

She said the Tanzanian media reported that army tanks were advancing towards Malawi in preparation for war, but Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete told her at their meeting in Maputo, Mozambique, that all this was not true.

The President said the elevation of Traditional Authority Mkanda to senior chief was long overdue as the previous administrations did not recognise him.

She said those who narrated the history of Mkanda’s chieftaincy proved that she made a right decision to elevate the chief.