President Joyce Banda has said she will not stop visiting people around the country because that is the only way she can appreciate people’s plight and get to know their needs.
She was speaking during what she termed a developmental rally in Area 25 in Lilongwe, a day after her arrival from Kuwait.
Banda said while she understood and agreed with Minister of Finance Maxwell Mkwezalamba’s directive to suspend international and local travels as part of the austerity measures in the wake on the cash-gate scandal, She said that the directive included an aspect of “except critical stuff”.
“For me, this trip falls under critical stuff. I cannot defy my own minister by ignoring the ban but I must say here that I will not stop travelling to visit my people, even if it means walking or cycling.
“I live just behind Area 25 and you mean I cannot take the time to visit you because there is a ban? I understand the need to cut down on expenditure but it is necessary,” she said.
The rally also unveiled new members who have joined People’s Party (PP). They included former Malawi Congress Party (MCP) Secretary General Chris Daza and Bester Majoni.
