Joyce Banda in answering a question from a Voice of America reporter as to the reason she lost the elections, her answer was as follows:
“I think that is a very difficult question for me to respond to because I can only direct you to an official report issued and announced in Malawi by the government’s governance institution, the Malawi Human Rights Commission, that tells what happened around the elections. And Malawi has a president, I will never challenge that”.
The former President has clearly not come to terms with her loss. Joyce Banda, with 20 percent of the vote came third losing to new comer Lazarus Chakwera by 8%. Many agree that even If there was rigging it was so minimal as to have affected the result of the outcome. Joyce Banda is travelling all over the world trying to convince the International Media that without the rigging she could have won the elections.
Though other analysts had picked President Banda to win, The Maravi post political analysts were unconvinced she would benefit from an incumbency advantage and the handouts she gave to Malawians who attended her campaign rallies, especially given the “Cashgate” corruption scandal plaguing her.
But why have you stayed outside the country for such long period of time without returning to Malawi?
JB: I don’t have a job in Malawi. What surprises me is that you are asking me this question because, in the past, we have seen presidents who have left office in Malawi and have gone and spent many, many months outside the country. Do you remember the time [former] president Bakili Muluzi stayed for a long period in the UK with his family? So I truly believe that there no problem with that then, and there is no problem with me staying outside as well.
That excuse that Muluzi did it is shallow. Joyce need to come to terms with her loss and come back to Malawi to help with its development. She can do a lot more good in Malawi than outside. As a former President she can stand in for the President in International matters like Bakili Muluzi is currently doing. Honors received while serving Malawians are more valuable than those she is currently receiving from Western media like CNN and the Huffington post who just want to cause mischief.
Former President Joyce Banda need to come to understand the real reasons why she is no longer the President of Malawi and come back home to contribute. Her responsibilities to the country did not end with her loss of the Presidency. Big up madam Joyce Banda
