Joyce Banda’s frequent trips to Nigeria raises questions

Thursday, December 26, 2013 |  by- Rex Chikoko

Malawi President Joyce Banda's frequent trips to Nigeria have raised questions on social media.

President Banda is scheduled to take her seventh trip to Nigeria in the 20 months she has been in office, raising eyebrows on why she visits the country so often.

On Thursday, the State House in Malawi announced that she would leave for Nigeria on Friday on a private visit.

“Her Excellency, the State President, Dr Joyce Banda leaves the country tomorrow, 27th December, 2013, for Nigeria, on a three-day private visit,” reads the press release that was signed by the Presidential Press Secretary Steven Nhlane.

President Banda’s ascendancy to power is connected to the prophecy of the Nigerian preacher TB Joshua who is said to have predicted the death of former Malawi President Bingu wa Mutharika.

President Banda had visited Nigeria more than once before she ascended to presidency.

At some point she was captured on Emmanuel Television at TB Joshua’s synagogue. Emmanuel TV is owned by the flamboyant preacher.

After she rose to power, President Banda has made several official visits to that country.

QUESTIONS ON SOCIAL MEDIA

Since the announcement of the impending visit, the social media is awash with comments asking why Malawi president visits Nigeria that often.

One blogger wrote “This will be Joyce Banda’s seventh trip to Nigeria since ascending to presidency. What is in Nigeria? How special is Nigeria to Banda?”
Other bloggers say Banda was visiting TB Joshua again as the country was preparing for the forthcoming elections.

However these will remain speculations as the president’s visit is private.

Meanwhile, her party’s vice President Cassim Chilumpha has resigned from the party over a remark made by a party member that President Banda does not like Chilumpha.