Once again Malawi Government responds directly to an allegation from a member of parliament who has nothing better to do. In case you are interested below is the full transcript:
On Hon Kamlepo Kalua’s accusation in the December 31, 2015 Daily times that the State President was extravagant in the purchase of a motor home, Government wishes to comment as follows:
The motor home in question was indeed purchased for MK65 million and was paid for in two equal installments. The price was not MK150 million as alleged. It was bought as a new unit in July 2015 to replace the old one which was already second-hand when it was bought over six years ago. It was having frequent breakdowns on the convoy and at one time, it had to be towed back to base. This shows the mechanical condition the old unit was in. It certainly had to be replaced.
The motor home is not a luxurious model because it is small and an ordinary unit in the line of motor homes. On the President’s convoy, it is not a recreational vehicle, but a very essential and most functional unit of the convoy. The previous Presidents’ convoys had motor homes too. Before the current President became President, he had a private motor home, which he still has, that he used on his campaign trips as a washroom.
Now the President travels by road on short and long trips despite the inconvenience he suffers in doing so.He has never traveled by helicopter since he took office. This travel by road is actually less expensive than helicopter travel where the road convoys still follow him to the meeting sites. We should therefore commend him for these cost-cutting efforts in his travels.
On these long trips, as well as long field functions, the President uses the motor home as a washroom. He also takes his meals in it when he is on the road during meal times. The alternative would be for him to use filling station washrooms or other despicable facilities along the way. That would be most demeaning and a serious state security compromise. It would be unforgivable for Malawians to degrade the State President or the President’s office to such a low extent.
Hon Kalua and the others who attacked the President in the said article should have checked the facts before they went to the Press. Daily Times Newspaper should have done likewise before going to print and writing the editorial in which they ignored the accurate figures given by the State House and used the false figures from Hon Kalua. Standing Orders in Parliament hold Hon Kalua responsible for the accuracy of his statements in the august House. He is liable to appropriate Parliamentary discipline if he lies or misleads fellow MPs. Outside of Parliament, he is equally responsible and morally bound not to mislead the public, which he has done unfortunately.
The unacceptable tendency for Opposition politicians and others to fault the President anyhow is a political disease that must be dealt with. Both Opposition and Government politicians as well as all Malawians of good will genuinely want Malawi to develop. We therefore urge Hon Kalua and all concerned Malawians to join hands with Government, to have constructive dialogue across the political divide, and to move forward for national development. With patriotism, integrity and hard work, which the President repeatedly calls for, we shall succeed.
