Joyce Banda Discards Presidential Jet,
Luxury Car Fleet
Malawi’s new president has made numerous breaks from
her autocratic predecessor but few will be this popular: she has dumped his
presidential jet and fleet of luxury cars.
Joyce Banda, who came to power in April after the
death of Bingu wa Mutharika, has barely paused in her drive to overturn his
controversial policies and lifestyle.
Her decision to sell or lease the impoverished
country’s £8.4m presidential jet and fleet of 60 Mercedes government cars seems
likely to cement domestic goodwill – and confirm her as a darling of the west.
Britain, Malawi’s biggest aid donor, announced on
Friday that Andrew Mitchell, the international development secretary, had
raised the issue of the Dassault Falcon 900EX jet with Banda at a private
meeting with the new government.
Mitchell said: “At a time of austerity in both Britain
and Malawi, president Banda’s decision to sell or lease the presidential jet
and expensive fleet of cars sends an enormously encouraging signal to British
taxpayers and the international community about the seriousness president Banda
is applying to overturn bad decisions taken under the previous government.
“The proceeds can be used to provide basic services to
Malawi’s poorest people who urgently need help following the vital devaluation
of the currency.”
Last month Banda was quoted in local media saying the
cabinet would discuss the future of the jet, explaining that she had no
problems “offloading it as I can well use private airliners; I am already used
to hitchhiking”.
Mutharika bought the presidential jet in 2009,
claiming it was less expensive than leasing a plane every time he travelled.
But it came to be seen as a symbol of African kleptocracy and some observers
compared him with Zimbabwe’s Robert Mugabe.
Mutharika was also condemned for purchasing a 58-room
mansion in his home district and granting a salary to his wife. His regime
lashed out at allegations of corruption and cronyism at a time when Malawi was
suffering severe shortages of foreign currency and fuel.
The president’s sudden death from a heart attack
changed the course of history. Having thwarted an attempt by his allies to
block her, Banda assumed control and has since appointed a new cabinet, sacked
his police chief, announced the lifting of a ban on homosexuality and restored
the country’s independence era flag.
The turnaround has been welcomed by western countries
such as Britain, whose high commissioner was expelled by Mutharika for branding
him “autocratic and intolerant of criticism”.
During a four-day visit, Mitchell confirmed that the
Bank of England will work directly with the Reserve Bank of Malawi to help it
cope with the impact of slashing the value of the local currency, the kwacha,
by one third earlier this month on the advice of the IMF.
The minister said: “I am also delighted to be in
Malawi to relaunch Britain’s development partnership with the new president.
Britain is leading the international community by providing urgent balance of
payments support and technical assistance to Malawi through the Bank of
England.”
Earlier this month Britain pledged £20m to help
stabilise the Malawian economy and £10m for the country’s health system.
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