Maravi

(NYASATIMES) Malawi leader cancels Zambia visit: Send apologies to Sata

Malawi leader cancels Zambia visit: Send apologies to Sata
By Thom Chiumia, Nyasa Times
October 23, 2012

Malawian President Joyce Banda three-day state visit to has been cancelled, Nyasa Times learnt on Tuesday. President Banda was scheduled to arrive in Lusaka on Tuesday and was expected to attend Zambia’s 48th independence celebrations on Wednesday.

But she did not show up at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport, where both Zambian government officials and Malawian Foreign Affairs Minister Mganda Chiume with High Commissioner to Zambia David Bandawe waited in vain, according to Zambia Reports.

President Banda instead will head home straight from Dubai where she attended the World Energy Forum.

Presidential Press Secretary Steve Nhlane confirmed to Nyasa Times that President Banda is not going to Zambia.

President Joyce Banda send apologies to President Sata

“She had a critical emerging meeting this morning in Dubai and that meant she could not make it for the Zambia for tomorrow’s celebrations,” said Nhlane on Tuesday.

He said the Malawian leader “sent her apology to Zambian President Michael Sata.”

Meanwhile, President Banda will be represented at the Zambia Independence celebrations by Malawi’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Ephraim Mganda Chiume.

Chiume is already in Zambia and according to Lusaka Times, he said Zambia and Malawi have continued to enjoy warm relations dating as far back as the pre independence times for the two countries.

He said nothing should ever come in between the two countries to deter them from enjoying the cordial relations.

Zambia gave Malawi several millions of litres of fuel to help with the fuel shortage experienced at the hands of former president Bingu wa Mutharika.

Labels: JOYCE BANDA, MICHAEL SATA

posted by MrK @ 2:55 PM