Malawian minister resigns

President Banda, Muluzi said it was with enormous regret that he, with immediate effect, resigns from the post of Minister of Economic Planning and Development but he, however, expressed gratitude to President Banda for trusting him with the ministerial responsibility.
Muluzi’s resignation came barely two days after President Joyce Banda and PP members held a function in the lake shore district of Mangochi on Saturday where it is on record that the ruling party’s top officials talked ill of the young Muluzi. During the event that was broadcast on the country’s state broadcaster, Malawi Broadcasting Corporation, PP officials among other things told the masses “not to vote a candidate who is not fluent in the area’s common language, Yao.”
In his statement, Muluzi expressed disappointment over the remarks on his person and that of his father, Bakili Muluzi, who was the country’s second president and currently in South Africa receiving medical attention.
The young Muluzi described the character of his fellow politicians as “lack of the courtesy, mutual respect and dignity that is expected between colleagues who strive together in pursuit of a common cause in serving Malawians selflessly and to the best of one’s abilities.”
He further wrote: “I therefore as a matter of principle, do not believe that I can continue to serve as a member of the cabinet with the honour and dignity that is requisite for the performance of such duties and responsibilities incumbent with such a position. “Muluzi added he felt moral responsibility to assist the government in paving an optimal path towards rectifying the political and economical decline which he said was largely attributed to mismanagement by previous dispensations and restoring, in some measure, the credibility and confidence that was subsequently lost.”
Neglect of these issues could have jeopardised the evolution of our fragile multiparty democracy and condemned Malawians to continued misery emanating from the throes of abject poverty,” observed Muluzi, who recently endorsed President Joyce Banda’s Economic Recovery Plan  blueprint. The former cabinet member, however, said he was “immensely grateful” to President Banda for giving him the opportunity to serve in her cabinet and the people of Malawi.
President Joyce Banda appointed the young Muluzi in the said portfolio in her inclusive cabinet upon assuming power on April 7 following the death of President Bingu Mutharika who died in office on April 5. Recently, the opposition United Democratic Front (UDF) — the party his father founded — elected the 34-year-old-Muluzi as the party’s chair and presidential candidate in the 2014 presidential elections.
The development made commentators question Muluzi’s allegiance towards President Joyce Banda’s government but the former Minister vowed he will “serve President Joyce Banda’s government and help it achieve economic recovery, a stand he has now backtracked on.” — Xinhua.