Chakwera blasts US over travel bans
President Lazarus Chakwera on Friday described as laughable the travel ban to the United States of America imposed on four former public officials answering corruption-related cases.
According to Chakwera, the US government needs to focus on its numerous challenges including gun violence, police brutality against blacks, proliferation of drug trade, segregation and work to improve its porous borders, among others.
Chakwera made the remarks during the opening of the Agricultural Investment Conference marking the inaugural Agriculture Tourism and Mining (ATM) promotion week in Lilongwe.
On Wednesday this week the US Department of State issued a travel ban on former solicitor general and principal secretary in the ministry of justice Reyneck Matemba, former Public Procurement and Disposal of Assets Authority (PPDA) chairperson John Suzi-Banda, former Malawi Police Service lawyer Mwabi Kaluba and former Inspector General of Police George Kainja.
But Chakwera said: “This week the government of America issued a statement that it has established that the four people answering corruption charges in court are the worst wrong-doers. I almost laughed because these are just suspects who were removed from positions to pave the way for legal proceedings. But now it is strange to see the Americans jumping the gun and passing its verdict before the court process [is completed].”
Chakwera, who appeared jovial when making the address, further said Malawi’s courts are capable and independent. He warned Washington against meddling in local affairs.
He, however, blamed some unpatriotic Malawians for the negative vibe from the US, arguing that some citizens are always the first to speak ill of the country thereby giving outsiders a platform to scorn the country willy-nilly.
Turning to the conference, Chakwera indicated that the initiative has the potential to turnaround the country’s fortunes and encouraged both the youth and women to take an interest in commercial farming.
In his remarks, Minister of Agriculture Sam Kawale said the conference has, among others, brought together policymakers, investors and financiers to share insights and seal deals for the successful implementation of the Malawi 2063 blueprint.
