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President Banda’s Equatorial Guinea trip ill-timed

Malawi President Joyce Banda is facing heavy criticism from the opposition for flying out of the country, amidst a crisis in the civil service.

President Banda left for Equatorial Guinea on Thursday to attend the Africa-South America summit.

Her trip comes at the height of the civil servants nationwide strike, aimed at pushing for a 67 percent salary increment and better working conditions.

A press statement issued by the state house signed by presidential press secretary Steve Nhlane, says it was proper for Banda to attend the summit considering its importance.

Leaders of opposition political parties have described President Banda’s trip to Equatorial Guinea as clear indication that she is not committed to resolving the current problems facing the country.

President of the New Labour Party, Friday Jumbe said the president has gambled terribly.

Jumbe said :“When airports are threatened to be close down because of the civil service strike, when the hospitals are about to close down , you are a state of the crisis. Then it’s not normal that under those circumstances for the president to fly away.

“In many places when there is crisis of this nature, you will find that the president cut shorts their trips and return to their respective countries and resolve the crisis. “

His statement is echoed by the United Democratic Front whose spokesperson is Ken Ndanga.

“ As the President, she should not have decided to gone out of the country when there is tension in this country. You see students are on the streets, this is something which has not happened in this country even in before the time of John Chilembwe,” said Ndanga.

“I think the President should have been sensitive enough to actually delegate somebody to go on her behalf- she has the vice president, cabinet ministers. I think she should have done better than that.”

Protests

Primary school pupils held protest march in Blantyre heading to the State House before being blocked by the police.

The marching children missed the president with a wisp, as the president had left at least 30 minutes earlier for the airport.

The kids, without police escort, wanted to meet the president and call on her to resolve the civil service strike so they resume learning.

Students and pupils in all government schools are not learning, as their teachers are on strike.

Pupils from Chimwankhunda and Zingwangwa primary schools raided the president’s Joyce Banda Foundation International schools , arguing “ we should suffer equally”.

On Wednesday, Civil servants vowed to proceed with their strike despite presenting a petition to the government.

Principal Secretary in the Office of the President and Cabinet Willie Samute received the petition on behalf of the employers.

The police attempted to block the solidarity march organized by the civil servants before presenting the petition but the striking workers went ahead to demonstrate their grievances.

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