Malawi President Dr Joyce Banda has
denied rumors that she would resign
from her position. The reports about President Banda
resignation have circulated this week
when the country was at a standstill
with the civil servants strike. In a letter purportedly written to
President Banda to the Speaker of
Parliament, which went viral on social
media, the Malawi leader allegedly
advised the Speaker that she is no
longer able to execute her executive duties due to alleged “health
problems”. But State House on Friday said it is
deeply dismayed by the letter, saying it
is fake and forged.
The letter alleges Dr Banda had
decided to resign following alleged
“doctors’ advice”. Presidential Press Officer Tusekele
Mwanyongo said in a statement made
available to Nyasa Times that at no
time has President Banda” explicitly or
implicitly resigned as Malawi’s Head of
State.” The State House believes the alleged
resignation letter is the work of “a
desperate confusionists, who are bent
on bringing disorder in this country. “ The statement reads in part: “The
architects of the letter are people who
cannot appreciate the peace and order
currently prevailing in this country
under the able leadership of Her
Excellency Dr. Joyce Banda. They are prepared to stoop so low as to break
the law just to bring about anarchy for
their own selfish ends.” The State House said it is of the strong
view that the letter is a criminal act,
“which borders on treason,
particularly when the architects of the
letter had to forge the signature of the
Head of the State.” Mwanyongo said “Malawi Government
will surely not sit back and watch
whilst these misguided individuals
cross legal boundaries to further their
sinister motives.” He said the government, through
appropriate law enforcing agencies, is
meanwhile taking all measures to
investigate the origin of the letter, the
source of the false rumours. “The nation is being assured that all
persons involved in this criminal,
unpatriotic and malicious act will be
brought to book,” he added. Meanwhile, President Banda is
attending an Africa-American summit
in Equatorial Guinea. She left on
Thursday by a private jet sent by E.
Guinea’s President. Before her departure on Thursday, the
President justified her three-day trip,
saying it is expected to improve the
bilateral relations between African and
South American countries. State House announced that President
Banda will return on Saturrday. The President is expected to arrive
through Chileka Airport in Blantyre at
2PM, according to State House.