Supporters and detractors to former Malawi president Joyce Banda are now in agreement that her self-imposed political exile will not end in the foreseeable future. She has shown little or no desire of returning home, until at the very least maybe 2019 when the Democratic Progressive Party’s current term officially comes to an end. In the likely case that Peter Mutharika will be re-elected JB will not set foot in Malawi until 2026.
This is not the first time Joyce Banda has used self-exile to run away from problems in Malawi. This tactic worked for her when she was then Vice-President in the Bingu WA Mutharika cabinet. When she refused to support Peter Mutharika as the heir apparent to the throne, Joyce Banda went to the USA and stayed there for six months without any explanation before returning home after being assured by Bingu that she was not going to be thrown in jail.
When Paul Mphwiyo was shot and rumors were abound that she was involved at some level. Joyce Banda disappeared to the USA without any explanations. Who can forget the Facebook posting by Seodi White which went viral demanding she come home to calm a nervous nation? She eventually came home after making sure Paul Mphwiyo was not squealing and pointing the finger directly at her.
People’s Party secretary general Ibrahim Matola and Kenneth Msonda continue to blame her exile on the DPP led government. This is a shame because Joyce Banda who is supported by Western leaders cannot be thrown in Jail without a good reason. If Peter Mutharika jailed without due process, The Western donors will cause him the same troubles they did on his brother.
One Malawi publication has called her a Coward for refusing to come home to face the music. Some have pointed to the example of Bakili Muluzi who has gone through trial and tribulations, facing everything head-on. Bakili Muluzi is now considered a statesman for not choosing to seek exile in a friendly Muslim led country.
Joyce Banda alleged involvement in Cashgate goes deeper than would be imagined; one wonders, if she had had no hand in Cashgate, why would she fear that the DPP would hung out to dry?.
Supporters of Joyce Banda in the West at some point will come to the same conclusion as Malawians that the former President has something to hide and is a coward who cannot defend any actions she took as President.
