PP reiterates need for JB’s retirement home

People’s Party (PP) has reiterated its demand for government to give Joyce Banda (JB) a home befitting a former head of State, before it can expect her to return home.

The sentiments follow remarks President Peter Mutharika made on Saturday at Kamuzu Palace in Lilongwe, during a Blue Night Fundraising Dinner and Dance organised by the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP).

In a telephone interview yesterday, PP spokesperson Noah Chimpeni said government must walk the talk in making declarations that JB should return home.

“Up to now government has not given her a home worth a former president. So, they should not just be talking, but they have to prepare everything that befits the former head of State,” said Chimpeni.

In his address, monitored by Malawi News Agency (Mana), Mutharika said he was saddened that Banda is busy telling world leaders that he is denying her to return home.

The President said he was approached by some world leaders a few weeks ago when he was in Brussels, Belgium, who asked him why he is refusing JB to come back to the country.

Commenting on the issue yesterday, government spokesperson Nicholas Dausi laughed off PP’s claims, saying Banda’s family has been coordinating with the Office of the President and Cabinet (OPC) and was given a chance to choose a house for the former leader.

Efforts to corroborate Dausi’s claims with JB’s family proved futile.

Said Dausi: “Why are we taking care of Dr. Bakili Muluzi? Why are we taking care of all the former vice-presidents? What sort of hatred can it come with? The President has said let her come back and help to develop this country. It will not help her to be in America and London and dent the image of the government. She must come back, the issue of a house is not an issue.”

Banda came third in the 2014 first-ever Tripartite Elections won by Mutharika.

Since her loss, she has been in self-imposed exile.  n