Blair ‘quits as advisor to Malawi leader’

Cape Town – Former British prime minister Tony Blair has reportedly quit as an advisor to Malawi’s president Joyce Banda, amid a corruption scandal rocking the southern African country.The Telegraph reported that Blair and his team had been working in Banda’s office, advising her on how to run the country.

According to the report, Banda’s spokesperson admitted that the Tony Blair Africa Governance Initiative (AGI) was calling it quits, but maintained the development was not linked to the corruption scandal.

The British government froze aid payments to Malawi in November in response to the multi-million pound corruption which involved dozens of officials.

The move by Britain was likely to have a catastrophic effect on Malawi’s ability to provide basic services. The European Union and Norway have also withdrawn their support for Malawi.

Banda has in the past been quoted as saying she would not cry over the freezing of aid, although she understood the need for British politicians and taxpayers to have confidence in her government. – News24.