The immediate past President Dr. Joyce Banda has ruled out the possibility of her coming back to Malawi soon, saying her security is not guaranteed in the country.
Banda said this in a Press Statement issued on Sunday through her personal aide Tusekele Mwanyongo aimed at responding to various issues raised by President Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika upon arrival from Mozambique at Kamuzu International Airport (KIA).
The remarks come barely a month after Banda failed to return home as it was earlier indicated through her Press officer.
In the statement, Banda question Mutharika’s olive branch extended to her, saying six hours after declaring Mutharika as Malawi’s President her vehicles were withdrawn.
“The late Yasser Arafat, who was Palestinian President once said: “I come bearing an olive branch in one hand, and the freedom fighter’s gun in the other. Do not let the olive branch fall from my hand.
“This was a serious quote with hostile connotations. During his inauguration, President Mutharika made almost a similar declaration about me. I take serious exception to the President’s ‘extension of the olive branch’ because he has never attempted to reach out to me if he were indeed to talk about reconciliation,” said Banda.
Added Banda: “On May 9, 2015, at the memorial of late President Bingu wa Mutharika at Ndata Farm in Thyolo, government through spokesperson Nankhumwa, claimed they had evidence that I had killed President Bingu wa Mutharika and that I must therefore be taken to court. “These claims are extremely serious and expose me to serious danger.”
Banda urged the President to stop attacking the opposition and concentrate on solving some challenges currently rocking the country.
“My humble advice is that instead of picking unnecessary fights with perceived opposition political enemies, the President ought to seriously focus on his work as there are many pressing issues affecting the general citizenry in Malawi especially the rising insecurity and crime; impending hunger; water and electricity shortages; and the collapsing economy,” she said in the statement.
Banda, founder of Opposition People’s Party (PP) left the country just after the May 20, 2014 tripartite election which saw Mutharika being declared President.
Many people attributed her trip to the ongoing investigations to the looting of public funds currently pegged at MK24 billion which she denied.
Meanwhile some Party top officials are calling upon Banda to immediately return to Malawi to help in rebuilding the party in redness to the forthcoming general elections.
