Bingu spotted in Abuja, returns

Presidential spokesperson Hetherwick Ntaba and Information Minister Patricia Kaliati are either liars or are sometimes strategically kept in the dark on core tasks of their jobs.

 

The two said on Tuesday they did not know the whereabouts of their boss, President Bingu wa Mutharika, who was reportedly seen leaving Kamuzu International Airport (KIA) early in the morning for an unkonwn destination.

Four airport officials from Police, Immigration, Civil Aviation and Airport Developments Limited earlier claimed they saw the President leave the airport for South Africa at about 5.15 am, with a possible onward connection to Abuja in Nigeria.

A State House source also corroborated the trip, but could not say more, apart from arguing that “such trips are normal.” But the source did not disclose Mutharika’s destination.

It is now official on the Republic of Nigeria’s State House website (www.nigeriafirst.org): the Malawi President was in the West African country, being hosted by his counterpart Goodluck Jonathan.

But the website did not disclose the two presidents’  agenda.

Speculation is, however, high that Mutharika was in Nigeria to negotiate for fuel, an issue that also reportedly saw him send an envoy to Angola recently.

In their remarks on Tuesday, Ntaba said he was not aware of the President being out of the country whereas government spokesperson Kaliati said she only knew Mutharika was in the country.

Meanwhile, the President—determined to keep his trip under wraps—returned home on Wednesday afternoon, but not through the normal way. He went through the cargo section at KIA.

The Nation crew, which camped at KIA, saw the presidential jet land at about 2.35 pm and the plane did not stop at the usual parking area, but went to the cargo terminal, about 400 metres from the main terminal.

Some staff at the cargo section later claimed, in an interview, that their superiors locked them up but only after they saw a convoy of seven vehicles with two presidential limousines arrive at the terminal at exactly three minutes before Mutharika’s plane landed.

Some women dressed in ruling DPP regalia were also sent from the VVIP lounge where they had gone in a minibus. It later transpired the women were just visiting the airport as they later visited Kamuzu Mausoleum and Parliament Building at City Centre.

Mutharika’s convoy, which was escorted by a dark police Mitsubishi Pajero, did not use the usual loud sirens. It also avoided the Area 18 Roundabout and the road that passes through Parliament, but instead
took a short cut at Area 10.

Another Nation crew counted the seven vehicles at the New State House gate with the President entering the presidential residence at exactly 3.02 pm.

Kaliati on Wednesday insisted she had no knowledge of the matter, arguing photographs can be manipulated while Ntaba, who was addressing the media at his office, said he needed to find out from Ministry of Foreign Affairs about the Mutharika-Jonathan photograph as he had no information.

FAST FACTS

• Traditionally, government announces the foreign travel itinerary for the Head of State days before departure or arrival.
• Usually, the President leaves with pomp and fanfare, and is seen off by high ranking government and party              officials.

·       Before departure or on arrival, the President also normally inspects a guard of honour by the Malawi Defence Force.