JB seeks better house from government
Former president Joyce Banda has decried government’s delay to find ‘proper’ housing for her, saying the current residence poses a risk to her wellbeing.
Banda’s special executive assistant Timothy Sandram in an interview yesterday said the former president is currently recuperating from an injury on her arm, for which she underwent surgery in South Africa, after she slipped in the bathroom.
He blamed the injury on the condition of the house, saying the former president is still at risk due to government’s delays in identifying a better retirement home for her.
Said Sandram: “Government, through the Office of President and Cabinet [OPC], is aware of the circumstances that led to her Excellency’s injury and subsequent surgery.
“She is currently recuperating, though still exposed to the same circumstances that led to her injury. We have been in contact with OPC and we believe and hope that the issues will be attended to with the urgency they deserve.”
He explained that when JB was allocated the current house in Area 12 in Lilongwe three years ago, it was considered temporary after a government inspection team noted some issues and said the OPC would find her an appropriate house.
“The former president moved into this current home in early June, 2020 as a temporary residence on the understanding that government was looking for proper accommodation for her. No timeframe was indicated for the appropriate accommodation for the former president, and we believe the search has been ongoing,” said Sandram.
OPC has not yet responded to our inquiry on this issue.
Last year, our sister paper Nation on Sunday carried a story which quoted Joyce Banda as having said she had been given her entitlements, including a “befitting house” and a Toyota Prado TX.
She said: “Some benefits were given during the DPP-led government i.e. pension, staff and medical. I was supposed to get two cars in 2014, but I did not. The Tonse government has provided one car and they are yet to provide the second one which I will get when funds are available.
“As for a house, the one I was occupying in Area 43 was old and dilapidated. The ceiling collapsed in November 2020. The Chief Secretary Zanga-Zanga [Chikhosi] came to inspect and directed that the Ministry of Lands should move us to another house.”
According to Section 5 of the Presidents (Salaries and Benefits) Act, a former president is entitled to a house or house allowance if they reside in a personal house, free electricity and water, two cars— a saloon and a four-wheel drive.
They are also supposed to have a 30-member staff, including six security officers, four gardeners, personal secretary and two drivers.
We could not establish if former president Peter Mutharika has received these benefits as his spokesperson Shadreck Namalomba did not respond to our questionnaire.
