News / National
Malawi's Ambassador disowns alleged remarks about Mugabe
02 Nov 2014 at 12:02hrs | Views
Malawi's Ambassador-designate to Zimbabwe, Mr Thoko Banda, has made a U-turn on his disparaging remarks about President Mugabe, claiming "words were put" into his mouth.
In 2006, Mr Banda insulted the President ostensibly to strengthen his asylum bid in Germany.
He had left Malawi following run-ins with former President Bakili Muluzi and his successor Dr Bingu wa Mutharika.
Mr Banda has now distanced himself from remarks attributed to him by German online magazine, The Foreigner.
He told The Sunday Mail via telephone on Friday: "Obviously your interest is coming from stories swirling around. I think the stories going around are certainly unfair and very baseless in the sense that the article being bandied around is not a story that I sanctioned.
"Those people (the magazine) certainly had their own agenda. I think that is the most important point from all this. The article had a lot of problems, including having words put into my mouth. Beyond that, I think everything should be left to the (Malawi) Foreign Affairs Ministry.
"But there is definitely no reason for panic because that article is not based on anything credible. Beyond that, I don't see any problem regarding the matter.
"I cannot comment on the posting itself. If you are able, get in touch with Foreign Affairs. But the people should be rest assured (that) there is no problem at all."
Prior to his posting to Harare, it had been reported that Mr Banda would be based in Belgium as Malawi's Ambassador to Brussels and the European Union, but that appointment was reportedly rescinded.
During President Muluzi's reign, Mr Banda was Malawi's chief diplomat in Germany and Japan.
In the interview with The Foreigner, Mr Banda said President Mugabe did not have the interest of Zimbabweans at heart.
This came even as the President's popularity has remained remarkably high as evidenced by successive election victories.
In 2013, he romped to victory with 2 110 434 votes, representing 61,09 percent of the total vote.
The President has also spearheaded mass empowerment programmes such as the land reform programme and indigenisation and economic empowerment.
About 85 percent of Zimbabweans approve of his policy orientation and leadership, according to a recent survey by Zimbabwe Global Initiative.
Political analyst Dr Nhamo Mhiripiri said: "I wouldn't read much into what some other African countries said about Zimbabwe (in the past). Maybe it is because they were misinformed and misled by the Western media.
"Rather, give Mr Banda a chance. Let him see the country for himself. He might be the best candidate to market it."
In 2006, Mr Banda insulted the President ostensibly to strengthen his asylum bid in Germany.
He had left Malawi following run-ins with former President Bakili Muluzi and his successor Dr Bingu wa Mutharika.
Mr Banda has now distanced himself from remarks attributed to him by German online magazine, The Foreigner.
He told The Sunday Mail via telephone on Friday: "Obviously your interest is coming from stories swirling around. I think the stories going around are certainly unfair and very baseless in the sense that the article being bandied around is not a story that I sanctioned.
"Those people (the magazine) certainly had their own agenda. I think that is the most important point from all this. The article had a lot of problems, including having words put into my mouth. Beyond that, I think everything should be left to the (Malawi) Foreign Affairs Ministry.
"But there is definitely no reason for panic because that article is not based on anything credible. Beyond that, I don't see any problem regarding the matter.
"I cannot comment on the posting itself. If you are able, get in touch with Foreign Affairs. But the people should be rest assured (that) there is no problem at all."
Prior to his posting to Harare, it had been reported that Mr Banda would be based in Belgium as Malawi's Ambassador to Brussels and the European Union, but that appointment was reportedly rescinded.
During President Muluzi's reign, Mr Banda was Malawi's chief diplomat in Germany and Japan.
In the interview with The Foreigner, Mr Banda said President Mugabe did not have the interest of Zimbabweans at heart.
This came even as the President's popularity has remained remarkably high as evidenced by successive election victories.
In 2013, he romped to victory with 2 110 434 votes, representing 61,09 percent of the total vote.
The President has also spearheaded mass empowerment programmes such as the land reform programme and indigenisation and economic empowerment.
About 85 percent of Zimbabweans approve of his policy orientation and leadership, according to a recent survey by Zimbabwe Global Initiative.
Political analyst Dr Nhamo Mhiripiri said: "I wouldn't read much into what some other African countries said about Zimbabwe (in the past). Maybe it is because they were misinformed and misled by the Western media.
"Rather, give Mr Banda a chance. Let him see the country for himself. He might be the best candidate to market it."
Source - Sunday Mail
