Maravi

(LUSAKATIMES) Malawi Veep jets into Zambia for a private visit

Malawi Veep jets into Zambia for a private visit
TIME PUBLISHED - Sunday, October 23, 2011, 3:53 pm

Malawian Vice President Joyce Banda has arrived in the country for a private visit. Vice President Banda arrived at Dr Kenneth Kaunda International Airport aboard an Air Malawi flight at exactly 10: 10 hours amid tight security.

Vice President Dr Guy Scott was on hand to receive his Malawian counterpart and immediately proceeded to greet ruling Patriotic Front (PF) cadres who were dancing and singing solidarity songs.

Lusaka Province Minister Miles Sampa and Acting Lusaka District Commissioner Martha Mwitumwa were also on hand to receive Vice President Banda. ZANIS reports that upon arrival Vice President Dr Scott and his Malawian counterpart where immediately driven to Lusaka’s Pamodzi Hotel where she will be lodging during her visit.

While at Pamodzi Hotel, Vice President Dr Guy Scott and his Malawian counterpart held private talks and journalists who followed from the airport to have an interview with the visiting Vice President were advised to leave as Ms Banda would not brief them on her mission to Zambia because she was in the country in her private capacity.

Recently, Zambia and Malawi have come under spotlight following President Michael Sata’s refusal to honour an invitation by that country’s President Dr Mbingu Wa Mutarika to attend the just ended COMESA summit. The President instead delegated Vice President Dr. Guy Scott who attended on behalf of Zambia.

President Sata’s refusal to honour the invitation followed his un-ceremonial ejection from that country in 2007 when he was an opposition leader and was invited to Malawi by former president Bakili Muluzi.

To this effect, Mr Sata demanded that the Malawian government should furnish him with reasons for his deportation.

The Malawian government has since revoked the ban on Mr. Sata to that country where he was declared a prohibited immigrant and said President Sata would be accorded all entitlements of a Head of State.

Malawi, like many other neighbouring countries have enjoyed cordial relations with Zambia since independence from the British colonial masters on 24th October, 1964.

ZANIS

Labels: GUY SCOTT, JOYCE BANDA, MALAWI, MILES SAMPA, PF

posted by MrK @ 6:43 PM