President Joyce Banda on Tuesday said there is need for Malawi to develop a national plan to be adopted by any president regardless of political affiliation.
Banda, speaking after hosting a group of pastors at Sanjika Palace in Blantyre, said the trend where incoming presidents abandon projects initiated by their predecessors, was not good for national development.
The President said she has carried on with projects started by her predecessor the late Bingu wa Mutharika because of their potential to develop the nation.
But in the same breath, while talking to the pastors who went to see her under Pastors Fraternal, Banda accused her predecessor of plundering the economy, adding that there was no secret about this.
In an apparent reference to the late Mutharika’s reported K61 billion estate currently being contested in court, Banda said she did not know some people hid K61 billion.
The President said Malawi must have a vision and thanked members of the clergy that offer advice to her.
Banda said as Malawi clocks 50 years of independence next year, Malawians must reflect on what the nation has achieved.
Chairperson of the Pastors Fraternal, Jimmy Chimphinda, speaking before the President, said next year, when Malawi will be celebrating 50 years, is “very critical”.
He said this is the year when people have to return to their homeland, when there shall be no oppression and the laws would be respected.
In an interview later, Chimphinda said his group met the President to assure her that they pray for her and they are with her in all her plans.
