The State House has strongly defended the purchase of a new motorhome for President Peter Mutharika’s convoy, saying in the absence of such a vehicle, the alternative would be for the President to use filling station washrooms or other despicable facilities during long and field trips.
A motorhome is a vehicle fitted with recreational facilities such as a kitchenette, washroom, sitting room and beds.
In a statement dated January 2, 2016, State House Press Secretary, Gerald Viola, said the use of such alternatives would be most demeaning and a serious State security compromise.
Viola was for the second time reacting to what Member of Parliament for Rumphi East Constituency, Kamlepo Kalua, told Times Television’s Point Blank programme, that a Cabinet minister confided in him that the government bought the motor home at K150 million.
The Presidential Press Secretary said despite the inconveniences, on both short and long trips, Mutharika travels by road and has never used a helicopter since he became President.
“On these long trips, as well as long field functions, the President uses the motorhome… He also takes his meals in it when he is on the road during meal times.
“The alternative would be for him to use filling station [washrooms] or other despicable facilities along the way. That would be most demeaning and a serious State security compromise. It would be unforgivable for Malawians to degrade the State President or the President’s office to such a low extent,” Viola said.
He said the new motorhome is not a luxurious model because it is small and an ordinary unit as compared to other motorhomes.
“On the President’s convoy, it is not a recreational vehicle, but a very essential and most functional unit of the convoy. The previous Presidents’ convoys had motorhomes too. Before the current President became President, he had a private motorhome, which he still has, that he used on his campaign trips,” he said.
Viola retaliated what he told The Daily Times of December 31 that the cost of the motorhome in question is MK65 million which was paid for in two equal installments and not K150 million as Kamlepo Kalua said.
“It was bought as a new unit in July 2015 to replace the old one which was already second-hand when it was bought over six years ago. It was having frequent breakdowns on the convoy and at one time, it had to be towed back to base. This shows the mechanical condition the old unit was in. It certainly had to be replaced,” Viola said.
He said Kalua and the others who attacked the President in The Daily Times article should have checked the facts.
“Standing Orders in Parliament hold Honourable Kalua responsible for the accuracy of his statements in the august House. He is liable to appropriate Parliamentary discipline if he lies or misleads fellow MPs.
“Outside of Parliament, he is equally responsible and morally bound not to mislead the public, which he has done unfortunately,” he said.
Viola said the tendency for opposition politicians and others to fault the President anyhow is unacceptable describing it as a political disease that must be dealt with.
According to Kalua, Mutharika deserves a motor home, but buying it at the alleged K150 million when the country is facing economic challenges is bad timing.
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