Banda purges Mutharika allies

mourning, certain decisions cannot wait,” Banda told a news conference in the capital Lilongwe, three days after taking office.
Top among Banda’s new appointments was Mary Nkosi as Reserve Bank governor, making her the first woman to hold the job.
A long-time deputy governor, she replaces Perks Ligoya, a close ally of Mutharika.
She named a new secretary to the Treasury, appointing career bureaucrat Radson Mwadiwa, who also becomes chairman of the state-owned Malawi Savings Bank.
President Banda also fired Patricia Kaliati, the information minister who publicly insisted that president Mutharika was alive more than a day after his death.
Kaliati was replaced by Moses Kunkuyu, a parliamentarian who broke away from Mutharika’s Democratic Progressive Party.
President Banda told reporters that she had received assurances from international development partners that they remained committed to the people of Malawi and that they will be in discussion with her government on how best to support Malawi’s economic recovery and development plans.
She also said she had spoken with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and asked her administration to unfreeze aid to Malawi that came through the US Millennium Challenge Corporation.
“On my part, I pledged that Malawi will resolve the issues that led to the suspension of the MCC, and particularly pledged that we want to restore the rule of law and democratic principles in our country, respect for human rights and freedoms as guaranteed by our constitution, and demonstrate good governance.
“My starting point is to make sure Malawi has a programme with the IMF,” said President Banda.
The MCC funnels US aid to countries with records of good governance and respect for human rights.
President Banda also disclosed that the Minister for Africa in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in the United Kingdom, Henry Bellingham, had called to assure her of the British Government’s commitment to support Malawi.
“In our discussions, we both committed ourselves to restoring the cordial relations between our two governments as quickly as possible,” said Malawi’s new leader.
“Right Honourable Bellingham indicated to me the British Government’s commitment to send a new British envoy to Malawi within the shortest time possible as part of the restoration of the cordial relationship,” she added.
Malawi depends on foreign aid for up to 40 percent of its budget, and the loss of foreign aid was economically painful for the southern African country.
The Malawian leader also said, “Later today I shall be meeting the IMF Resident Representative in Malawi, and I personally want us to agree on the best way possible to ensure Malawi gets on track with the IMF programme.”
President Banda has also sacked the head of the Malawi Broadcasting Corporation, Bright Malopa, another Mutharika ally who is alleged to have used state media to campaign against her after her expulsion from the DPP.
Malopa was replaced by Benson Tembo, a veteran broadcaster and former diplomat whose last posting was as ambassador to Zimbabwe.
She also announced an investigation into the mysterious death of student activist Robert Chasowa.
“As a mother, I feel for my fellow mother who doesn’t know what killed her son. I understand how painful it is, and I will make sure we find out who killed our son Chasowa,” Banda said.
In line with Malawi’s constitution, president Joyce Banda, who until Saturday was Malawi’s vice president, succeeded the late president Bingu wa Mutharika who died of a heart attack last Thursday. — AFP/Voice of America/ www.nyasatimes.com/The Herald.