Malawi President Joyce Banda on Sunday praised Mr. Atupele Muluzi, son to former President Bakili Muluzi, saying he is a hardworking young man and always eager to learn new things.

Ironically, Muluzi who resigned from cabinet recently will be facing off with President Banda in the 2014 presidential elections.

President Banda will be seeking her second but first legal term while the young Muluzi, recently elected as presidential candidate, will be representing the former ruling UDF formerly led by his father who ruled Malawi from 1994 to 2004.

“Honourable Muluzi came to say good bye and told me his relation with some members of cabinet whom he did not mention was strained. I respected his decision and let me say here that I have no grudges with him. He is a hardworking young man and eager to learn new things,’ said President Banda.

The President was speaking to journalists on return from the COMESA summit held in Uganda. She however did not come clear on reports that there is divisive politicking in her cabinet that led to Muluzi’s resignation.

On fuel shortage, President Banda said the Preferential Trade Area PTA Bank has approved to lend Malawi US$ 250 million of which US$ 150 million (MK45 billion) will facilitate the purchase of fuel from December 2012 to April 2013.

On the Malawi/Tanzania border dispute on Lake Malawi, Minister of Foreign Affairs Ephraim Chiume told the press conference that the two countries were on Monday November 26 expected to submit a joint application to former SADC heads of state seeking their mediation on the matter.

The President however made it crystal clear that the whole lake belongs to Malawi and that it is not for sharing.