Malawi President Joyce Banda Sells $15 Million Private Jet To Feed The Poor

September 14, 2013

Malawi will use $15m from the sale of the country's presidential jet to feed the poor and grow crops to
fight malnutrition, an official has said.

"It was a collective government decision that the money realised from the sale of the jet will be used to purchase maize locally and some for legume production," said Nations Msowoya, a spokesman for the Ministry of Finance.

Food experts have said 10 percent of the country's 13 million citizens face food shortages this year.

President Joyce Banda decided last year to sell the jet, bought by her predecessor Bingu wa Mutharika for $22m, due to the cost of running it.

Former colonial power Britain, Malawi's main bilateral donor, reduced its aid to Malawi by $4.7m after the 14-passenger aircraft was purchased.

malawi jet feeds poor

Mutharika, who died last year from heart attack, often defended the buying of the jet, saying it was cheap to run and a status symbol for the poor southern African nation.

In July, the United Kingdom said it would provide Malawi with $20m to alleviate  the "looming food crisis" in southern Africa.

Lynne Featherstone, the UK's international development minister, said the funds would "save countless lives".

Malawi, which was a net exporter of maize just a few years ago, has now seen stocks depleted to a quarter of its annual average after the worst harvest in seven years.

Price hikes and unpredictable weather have left food stocks dangerously low in the region, the government said.

Since taking office, Banda has introduced a host of cost-cutting measures and uses commercial airlines to travel outside the country.

The presidential aircraft was auctioned off to a Virgin Islands company, Bohnox Enterprise Ltd and the deal was announced in May.

The luxury jet cost Malawi about $300,000 a year in maintenance and insurance, a government official revealed.


Source: Al Jazeera | Photo: AFP


Click Here For The Most Popular On Sunny Skyz

feel good videoCouple Rescues Prairie Dog From Their Dog's Mouth, Then Decides To Adopt It

feel good storiesHungry Elephant Casually Walks Into Grocery Store For Snacks In Thailand

feel good storiesWild Orcas Keep Giving Humans Gifts, Leaving Experts Puzzled

feel good storiesMy Girlfriend Gifted Me My Father’s Handwriting To Keep Forever

feel good storiesWe Can’t Stop Looking At These Adorable Baby Loon Photos Taken On A Lake

feel good storiesThis Couple Built A Grass Patch For Their Cat, And She’s Obsessed With It

feel good video'Am I Allowed To Be This Happy?' The Moment A Nervous Foster Dog Finally Lies In A Dog Bed

feel good videoBaby Elephant’s Trunk Steals The Show In Adorable Treat Time Video

feel good videoGrandma Thinks She's 60. Her Reaction To Learning She's 90 Is Priceless

feel good videoChicken Or Pigeon? The Internet Can’t Believe This Bird Is Real

feel good videoBear Vs. Sprinkler: Hilarious Garden Moment Caught On Camera

Chris Filippou 12:17 PM (3 minutes ago) to me