State House cancels meet with radios

The State House has called off a meeting where President Joyce Banda was scheduled to meet representatives of some private and community radio stations.

Some radio stations told Weekend Nation on Thursday that they were invited to the meeting with the President which was scheduled for yesterday at Kamuzu Palace in Lilongwe.

“The agenda [of the meeting] was not clear. However, for unexplained reasons, the meeting was called off,” said an officer from one station.

Tusekele Mwanyongo from State House communication office reportedly called the radio stations informing them about the meeting.

In an interview yesterday, Mwanyongo confirmed coordinating the meeting which was called off.

He said: “The President was indeed supposed to meet radio stations, mostly community radio stations, but it will not take place. The meeting has not been called off,but shifted because the President has a tight schedule.”

Asked about the meeting’s agenda, he said it was supposed to be an interface execise where the President wanted to interact with the radio stations.

“Most of these stations are based in rural areas. It was important for the President to meet them and see how they can work together in development projects taking place in their respective areas,” said Mwanyongo.

He dismissed suggestions that the President wanted to reposition herself ahead of the May 20 Tripartite Elections.

Initially, the meeting was supposed to take place at Sanjika Palace in Blantyre, but was shifted to Lilongwe, according to Mwanyongo.

But Institute for Policy Interaction (IPI) executive director Rafik Hajat noted that much as such meetings are not bad, care is needed to avoid disadvantaging other parties.

“This is campaign time and there is need for a distinction between meeting the President as Head of State and party leader. This is to avoid putting other parties at an unfair advantage; otherwise, it would be fair for other parties to be attending such meetings,” said Hajat.