Commentators condemn press officer’s remarks

Commentators have questioned the motive of the praise that President Joyce Banda’s press officer, Brian Banda, gave to ministers who attended the President’s One Cow One Family function in Chiradzulu yesterday. After the President addressed the gathering at Namitambo in Traditional Authority Kadewere’s area, Banda thanked ministers John Bande (Trade), Uladi Mussa (Home Affairs), James Munthali (Agriculture) and Maxwell Mkwezalamba (Finance) for attending the rally.

But political analyst Henry Chingaipe warned that such overzealous comments would send a wrong signal and lead ministers to scramble for presidential functions at the expense of important government business in their ministries.

“The best way is for only ministers responsible or relevant to the function that the President is carrying out to attend and not every Jim and Jack. After all, she is doing her work and ministers should also be doing theirs,” said Chingaipe.

He said the press officer’s remarks also sent a message that some ministers in People’s Party (PP) are regarded as disloyal to the President.

“That statement shows that there is division in the party bordering on loyalty. It tells the public that there are two factions in the party; one is loyal and follows the President wherever she goes while the other party is not,” said Chingaipe.

He added that what is creating more suspicion is that the remarks were made at the end of the rally when protocol dictates that such should be done at the beginning.

Chancellor College-based political scientist Blessings Chinsinga agreed with Chingaipe, adding that it would be a waste of resources for every minister to attend every rally.

“This is campaign period and loyalty has to be practically shown by attending the [presidential] rallies. But this is waste of resources which could be put to better use,” said Chinsinga.

Presidential Press Secretary Steven Nhlane, however, said ministers are not mandated to attend the President’s rallies.

Said Nhlane in an e-mail response: “It is not mandatory for Cabinet ministers to attend all the President’s functions. But if a minister has an interest in the meeting or place where the function is taking place, he or she is free to do so.

“Ministers advise the President on many issues and she also needs them during her functions, especially as she articulates government policies. Actually, the President encourages Cabinet ministers not to follow her to all her functions unless they have something important to do at the said functions.”