“I cannot be rushed into signing the table mountain declaration “insult” laws”, says JB

President Joyce Banda says she cannot be rushed into signing the table mountain declaration “insult” laws that as requested by the country’s media fraternity.

They include sedition and defamation and Misa Malawi chapter asked the president to sign the declaration as part of this year’s world press freedom day that took place on Friday 3rd May.

She has since lashed out at those criticizing her for not signing the document charging people must not take advantage of her because she is a woman.

Speaking at Utale where she held a developmental rally, Dr. Banda defended her move not to use archaic laws on those that castigate her, arguing pursuing such a path would have been a waste of time as she has more pressing issues to attend to.

She was however quick to say that much as she might not want to said the said laws, there may be other leaders who shall need them in future just as her predecessor late Bingu wa Mutharika used them to victimize people like Gwanda Chakwamba and Kamlepo Kalua. Dr. Banda wondered why people are pestering her on the matter when it is a known fact that no leader in southern Africa or Africa at large has signed the declaration.

She went on to say that the said laws are still active even in Britain adding she is not a master of all areas as such she needs to consult widely first.

The Malawi Leader said she would like to investigate also as to why many leaders are not willing to sign the declaration. To this end she asked the country’s media fraternity which petitioned her on Saturday on the same to realize that she is human too. During the same rally, Joyce Banda has stressed her desire embark on a clean campaign in the run-up to 2014. Dr. Banda said she does not encourage politics of castigation as such she will spearhead policy centered campaign.