inauguration ceremony of President elect, Bingu wa Mutharika tomorrow, who was, by press time leading by a comfortable margin.
Minister of Energy Kenneth Konga and other senior government officials accompanied the President.
He was received at Chileka International Airport by Malawi’s vice-president, Joyce Banda, Zambia’s High Commissioner to Malawi, Joshua Simuyandi, Political adviser to the President, Akashambatwa Mbikusita-Lewanika, Eastern Province Permanent Secretary, Euralia Syamujaye and other senior government officials.
Mr. Banda was then taken to Sunbird Hotel, formerly Mount Soche, where he will be lodging until Friday, May 22, when he returns home.
Mr. Banda said on arrival that the re-election of President Wa Mutharika was important for Malawi, especially that he has won with a landslide in most of the regions in the country.
Other presidents that have arrived for the inauguration, which will be held at Kamuzu stadium tomorrow, include Jakaya Kikwete of Tanzania and some representatives from Swaziland and Angola.
Meanwhile, President Mutharika is clearly headed for a win in the heavily contested election that had six other presidential candidates.
Dr. Wa Mutharika of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), who was running for the second term of office, beat his main opponent John Tembo of the opposition alliance formed between the Malawi Congress Party (MCP) and the United Democratic Party (UDF), the party that had fielded former President, Bakili Muluzi for presidency in the recent election.
Other presidential candidates that were contesting the election are James Nyondo, an independent candidate, Loveness Gondwe of the opposition New Rainball Coalition (NARC), Kamuzu Chibambo of People’s Transformation Party (PETRA), Stanley Musauli of the Republican Party (RP).
And the European Union Election Observation Mission and the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) election observer missions have since declared the election as free and fair, adding that they were held under a tranquil and peaceful environment.
Head of COMESA Election Observer Mission, Otema Musuka, said at a press briefing here today that the mission did not witness any occurrence that could have compromised the integrity of the votes cast.
He congratulated the people of Malawi for the peaceful election and a huge turn out to cast the votes, which he said was an important ingredient to the development of democracy.
There are currently has nearly six million registered voters in Malawi, a country lying on an area of 118,480 square kilometres and a population of over 13 million people.
In an election for his first term of office on May 20, 2004, President Mutharika garnered 36 per cent of the vote.
There are currently has nearly six million registered voters in Malawi, a country lying on an area of 118,480 square kilometres and a population of over 13 million people.
ZANIS
Well, thank God the elections in Malawi ended peacifully. Just like Zambians, I think Malawians are humble and noble Africans with a natural tendency to compromise.
our president is on a trip
he was suppose to have been minister of tourism
when will h plan for Zambia sure awe
I am very sad that President RB Banda and other Presidents who have been named have arrive in malawi for the inauguration of President Bingu Wa Mutharika before all full results are counted. When is the rest of Africa going to follow in the leadership of late comers to multi-party politics South Africa to have inauguration ceremonies about one month after the election results are announced? Ot ideed, follow the USA, where the inauguration ceremonies are held about 2 to 3 months after the election of a President-elect?
Anyway, I understand the quick attendance of people like our President RB Banda for what he is doing now comes from the fact that he had a rashed inauguration ceremony which was held almost at night. What a shame Africa!
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Prevention is better than cure.
On another note, I will congratulate the winner of the Malawi elections when all results are fully counted since now we have “President Rupiah Banda has arrived in Blantyre, Malawi to witness the inauguration ceremony of President elect, Bingu wa Mutharika tomorrow, who was, by press time leading by a comfortable margin.“.
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Prevention is better than cure.
Sata should learn from his friend Muluzi who has quickly and hourably accepted defeat.
There he goes again !!a president always on trips tapapata pliz when is going to find time to tell us his vision for the country.H e jst came back from south africa then went to a retreat and already he is in malawi wonder where he heading to next?
ANother rigged election??? well hope not but a Bwezani, nkalanikoni pansi, baba. Geeee.. always on the move, do some work like giving us the direction where this country is going. Do you even have time to assess whats going on in that country thru the ministers? We want to hear concrete plans and know where the country is at, remember its still a third world country with a long way to go and the plan for the country and the people of Zambia is our main interest and we will judge you from there not from generally speaking and about what we all know. Yaba these guys, they seem so clueless but waking up to plan trips and borrow money from IMF etc..
VJ the man has done it again!
On another note and just to qualify the concerns by others who are questioning the tourism by President RB Banda, I think, in a way to make huge allowances for himself and his entourage whenever they move, I am impressed by “Other presidents that have arrived for the inauguration, which will be held at Kamuzu stadium tomorrow, include Jakaya Kikwete of Tanzania and some representatives from Swaziland and Angola” which clearly indicates that RESPONSIBLE PRESIDENTS TO THEIR PEOPLE ARE ONLY SENDING REPRESENTATIVES – who may even be ambassadors already residing in Malawi. I hope our President RB Banda will realise that he needs to send other Zambians sometimes instead of him moving about all the time to different countries.
__ Prevention is better than cure.
I dont think it is unreasonable for our president to attend the innauguration of a president in a neighbouring state. Also dont forget that Mutharika has very close links to Zambia as he lived here for a very long time.
The turn of events in Malawi is a big learning humiliation to two casualties:
(1)-Nyasa Times a tabloid that has been playing the unethical sabotage role against Mutharika and Malawians like Mmembe’s Post Newspaper (Z) against the ever-winning MMD. Where too now Nyasa Times in Mawali? It pays to be ethical. I shudder to imagine the landscape unethical Nyasa Time will live to navigate through henceforth.
(2)-The Zambian opposition and their cadres calling for a Grand Coalition as a winning option in a diversely plural democratic political dispensation. Coalition politics does not work if its only at the pyramid peak without integration at the grassroot.
UDF, MCP MARRIAGE OVER
Signing ceremony of coalition agreement, UDF’s Muluzi , MCP’s Tembo and Daza but now it…
UDF, MCP MARRIAGE OVER
Signing ceremony of coalition agreement, UDF’s Muluzi , MCP’s Tembo and Daza but now it is over!The political marriage between opposition Malawi Congress Party (MCP) and United Democratic Front (UDF) has been divorced following the victory of President Ngwazi Dr Bingu wa Mutharika and his DPP.MCP and UDF entered into a coalition and fielded one presidential candidate John Tembo after former president Bakili Muluzi was barred from contesting as UDF torch bearer.
Good job VJ. One day you will bring serious repercussions on us but you will be long gone to be able to ‘diplomatically’ solve them.
A learned, sober and people’s President is what the ballot deserve to have for 2011.The only way to progress henceforth in democracy is to respond to the noble call of President Banda for competitive democracy. President Banda is constitutionally mandated to rerun in 2011.The best those who fill they can carry the day need to do is take him on the ballot. MMD as a party makes its own choices and those uncomfortable with the collective decision, have the space to leave MMD, form own challenging parties or join existing titular ones.
Our mature and functional democracy dictates that out of the ballot, whoever wins carries the burden of responsibility and mandated instruments power to Govern.Congratulations to Malawi’s Dr.Mutharika 75 for a decisive victory against a Grand Coalition!
I hope he gave Vera a ride.
Thats totally correct #9.
That’s what he does best.
Vernon johnson mwaanga job well done!
While it may be the President’s perogative to travel to other countries and attend inaugurations, even I have to say that RB is quickly earning a name for himself as a ‘travel-oriented President’ rather than an ‘action-oriented’ one. I say this only because the majority of stories related to RB in his 6 month tenure of office have mainly focused on his ‘gallivanting’ ways.
some of you are here are making complete fontiniz of yoursel and I am myself disappointed that I have to tell you this. just how clever and powerful do you think VJ is????? what type of power does a fuqen sheet like VJ possess that enabled him to rob you and your neighbour malawi without any of you finding any evidence to present to the courts of law????
Congrats Mwaanga! great job done. You have made it again now at international level.
There they go again…….president on tour!
Ba RB ifimatoloshi kwati muli dirty diaper!
‘Rupiah Banda, President of Zambia is on a visit to neighbouring country called Malawi was met at the airport by his sister Joyce Banda the Vice President of Malawi’.
Bring back the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland………
Just the desparation strikes me.
Kimanguist? Likali shanelyo. Cali kale fwebenankana twaumfwilepo ishineli.
Well, Mr. Banda is just a man of many nations. In Malawi, he is just at home as he was in Zimbabwe few weeks ago. He is on top of the world.
The two pipo in the pic above look like a pair of villagers!!!!! Is that the president and his vice?????????
It is shameful, most shameful indeed, that this president is always on the move attending ceremonies leaving pressing issues for which he was elected to resolve pending at home. Who gives a damn about the inauguration of Mutharika a thief who was booted out of COMESA for embezzlement of funds? Banda’s incompetence is hitting the lunatic level.
Why do these presidents rush into being innogurated? Its like they don’t win genuinly and they want to assume power quickly so that they silence the opposition. The same thing happend to RB, who was innogurated at night before even counting of votes was concluded. AFRICAN POLITICS .
African countries will always lag behind. Why have a costly inauguration ceremony when an incumbent wins the election. There is nothing new about an incumbent President winning a second term in office. All they need to do is have a private swearing in ceremony by the Chief Justice. This saves alot of money which can be channelled to more pressing projects. This way, people like RB, who have nothing to do in their country, will be forced to retreat to Hippo Bay Lodge. At least it is cheaper. At this point, RB is simply a notorious tourist. I will not be surprised to hear that he has fathered children in all these countries he is visiting
kulibe kucita delegate RB,mwatamanga maninigi amudala kaa. Who was present at your inauguration by the way? Ok, tell us what your next destination is, in the next one or two weeks?
VINTHU VINA MWEBANTU.
Question: Is there Blantyre and Lilongwe or Blantyre is Lilongwe?
geography: these are two different cities or towns if you like. one is political capital and another one is industrial capital. its like lusaka and ndola. i hope this helps?
akulu mphuno inauguration after inauguration let the vp tavel a lil bit kunda has not left the country after being elected vp.. banda making serious loot!!! selfish bastrd!
Will Banda visit his parents birth place in Malawi now that he has time to do so? Why not? He did so when he went to Zim. In Banda, there’s no Zambian blood and this will come to haunt Teta, Shikapwasha, Duicker (Mpombo) and their gang.
he wouldnt miss it even if zambia came to a stand still
Ba mudala ba RB, you are always on the move. This time it is ‘home coming’…..
Maestro, Mutharika has an unassailable lead over John Tembo. Why wait till the last votes have been counted? Man. United were last week crowned English champions but they still have one more match to play. Or maybe you reckon we shouldn’t be sure they are the champions till the last game has been played?
Maesto hehehe, its support your team situation!
But why hasnt Vera travelled? i thought she was supposed to be there for her husband to be!
Maestro, the fact that Bakali has conceeded defeat, says so much. Bakili was more of a threat than Tembo. basically, its over!
#32, stick to what you know!!!!!
This is goob news for the continent, not like waht we saw in kenya last year, that was horrible.
yaba…its another drama in Africa….when shal;l we ever learn to be secure and courageous enough to accept that have won….why shud u inaugurate someone before the official results are all compiled and why a day after?can’t you learn from the ture doemcrats in America and Ghana…you could do it even after 30days or 90….so that all the silly leagl issues are dealt with…next time we have elections in Zed,we demand that presido shud be sworn in after 60 days…period……..RB naiwe too many movements ..uzakafela mundeke ka!!!
This Nyama soya is JOHN TRAVELTA
# 5 Bakili Muluzi did not stand it was John Tembo he (Muluzi) was supporting MCP’s John Tembo. They had an alliance.
#5Ching Chong says:
May 21, 2009 at 7:51 pmSata should learn from his friend Muluzi who has quickly and hourably accepted defeat.
mmmm Has he now?
Here comes the tourist. He really is. When will he sit down and plan for this country? My fellow bloggers I think this country has no President, We are just on our own.
38, Rock Steady, 39 Fashion Police, 41 Ba Moze greetings. Whiole I understand your points, it is still clear in my posting above that there is no need to rush the inauguration ceremonies for Presidents in Africa. 44 Umuntu has put it clear.
I hope NCC will consider putting a clause about 3 months later from the election win inauguration ceremony of the incoming and incumbent President. This will give them time to reflect on how to proceed once they start governing. Just look to our South African friends, they are new to democracy but are now outclassing us who are kind of pioneers.Let us learn to do things properly for the benefit of all African and World Citizens.
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Prevention is better than cure.
TOURIST aya! I have always said that if this man had guts to go to the moon, he would have gone.Please spare our resources kabolala iwe. This trips are very costly. One day it will cost your fortune. What are your strategies 4 the ‘loose economy’ in zambia? All you dream of together with Shikapwasha is Mobile Hospitals. Wakeup Mr president otherwise!
#31. zed, I predict that Nyama Soya will be travelling to the United States in two weeks. New York, to be exact. Watch this space!! Man can’t resist any excuse to reap where he didn’t sow; even if it means looting the country blind in the face of a terrible financial and economic crisis when even the richest countries are moderating the way they conduct their affairs! Only in Africa.
THE ABSENT PRESIDENT!! HE CAN SURELY DELIGATE SOME OF THESE TOURS AND DO SOME WORK AT HOME, DOES HE HAVE ADVISORS AT ALL? WE ARE SICK AND TIRED OF THESE GALLAVANTING.
no 49 rocket scientist, fimo fimo, …I agree it would be great to have the swearing in after a reasonable period of time and to allow verifications. However this as you intimate would have to be suupprted by law. In its absence , this circle of last votes being counted and swearing at the same time will continue. The NCC debated this issue and I can not remember the final outcome but there was apprehension about leaving a power vacuum. So neither situation is perfect , its comes doen to which is more approriate for a Country
There he goes again . What a disgrace ? joke of a president . On a road trip minus a map,
Am so sicked by his joy rides . What ‘s next ? space ?
Our veep is never in the middle of anything tangible. On his to do list , the main feature …
seeing his boss off to some place and when is he coming back ? I know we got screwed
big time, we could have done much better.
I hope this is the last assignment that VJ undertook. We are not going to spare you in our next election.