Malawi senior minister apologises for scheme over presidency

an exclusive interview with a local private radio Zodiak yesterday afternoon. “I would like to apologise to the president, Mrs Joyce Banda, all Malawians and the world at large for being part of the panel of the April 6 midnight press briefing,” said Mussa.
“When I sit down and reflect on that press briefing, I really feel ashamed.” 
“It was as if I had been bewitched or driven by some unknown force to be there but what we did on that night was very wrong and illegal.” Mussa, however, said what the panel conveyed to the public in that midnight press briefing was agreed by the entire cabinet that Banda should not be allowed to take over Malawi’s presidency following President Mutharika’s death on April 5.
He described the entire cabinet as having “been deranged and confused” to have behaved in a manner contrary to the Constitution and he further described the act as being “very un-Malawian.”
The minister, whom President Banda appointed chairperson for the organising committee on President Mutharika’s funeral, said he was ready to serve in any capacity be it ministerial in Banda’s government if it pleases the first Malawian female president.  
On Friday April 6, six ministers including Mussa and the then Information Minister Patricia Kaliati called for an extraordinary press briefing in the capital at around midnight where Kaliati told reporters that Joyce Banda was not legible for presidency in the event of Mutharika’s demise.
Kaliati said the fact that Banda had formed her own party while serving as the country’s Vice President on the other hand disqualified her from the country’s presidency.
The other four ministers present at the briefing were Health Minister Jean Kalilani, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Kondwani Nankhumwa, Deputy Minister in the Office of the President and Cabinet, Nicholas Dausi, and Minister of Youth and Sports Vuwa Kaunda.
Ironically, Joyce Banda was sworn in as Malawi’s president 18 hours later on Saturday, April 7, in the presence of the full cabinet. 
Media reports said the cabinet meetings that followed President Mutharika’s death on April 5 voted that Peter Mutharika, young brother to the fallen leader, should take over the presidency. This is contrary to the country’s constitution which stipulates that the Vice President takes over presidency in the event of death of the sitting president or incapacitation. Mussa is the first minister to come in the open and apologise for the controversial and misleading April 6 midnight press briefing.  
Meanwhile, the body of Mutharika was taken to his home, Thyolo, yesterday morning where family and people from surrounding areas paid homage to the fallen leader’s remains.
The 3rd Malawian leader’s body is expected to be laid to rest today at his Ndata farm. Meanwhile, seven heads of State from across the continent have confirmed attendance of Mutharika’s burial. — Xinhua.