President says will never use jet
Malawi President Joyce Banda has put her foot down not to use the presidential jet when travelling.
But JB says Malawi will not sell off the controversial Falcon 900EX presidential jet, in an apparent response to wishes of some Malawians.
Instead, the jet will be leased out for private hire, Banda told a news conference in the capital, Lilongwe on Sunday.
“I have told the Cabinet I will never use that jet. It is better for me to use commercial planes than waste so much money that can be used to buy medicines in our hospitals,” she said.
She disclosed that her trip to the Sadc Heads of State summit in Maputo, Mozambique, cost the taxpayer K3 million (about $12 000) when it would have been K16 million (about $64 000) on a presidential jet. Malawi has spent over K1 billion (about $4 000) to run the jet since its purchase. According to the President, a company has already been identified to operate the jet.
