Malawi President tells media, ‘iam not stupid’

{{Malawi President Joyce Banda has accused the country’s media of using the Table Mountain declaration to undermine her.}}

Media Institute for South Africa (Misa) Malawi Chapter recently reacted angrily when Mrs Banda refused to sign a declaration that implores African leaders to commit to repeal colonial media law.

Addressing a political rally in the Southern part of the country, Mrs Banda said being a woman does not mean that she is “stupid and has no brain.”

“They gave me five days to sign the document. When I consulted my lawyers, they said they knew nothing of the document. On legal matters, I consulted the attorney general and he had not seen the document, how would I sign?

“Even Britain has not signed the document, why are African leaders not signing the document? The whole of the SADC region leaders are refusing to sign the document, why me? Is it because I am a woman?” She queried.

Misa Malawi Chapter Chairperson Anthony Kasunda insisted that they followed the right procedure and that government officials are the ones who are “Very economical with the truth.”

President Banda refusal to sign the document has put her government on a war path with the media with some pundits arguing that she is taking the country back to the dark ages.

{NMG}