VP’s silence worries Petra

BY WATIPASO MZUNGU JNR

People Transformation (Petra) has expressed concern over what they called “the conspicuous missing of the Vice President on public functions”.

Addressing member of the media in Blantyre on Wednesday, Petra president Kamuzu Chibambo said it was a matter of concern that the office of the Vice President is incapacitated while the occupant is still there.

“We’re aware of certain developments that have taken place such as Madam Joyce Banda complaining that she was being denied television coverage and the stripping off of her role as Goodwill Ambassador for Safe motherhood. But the office of the VP is a constitutional provision and should not be incapacitated,” said Chibambo.

“It bothers me when the VP is conspicuously missing in the public. The Vice Presidency should be given its due respect,” he added.

On the new taxes imposed on imports, Petra expressed concern over the newly introduced taxes on second hand vehicles describing it “unduly expensive”.

According to Chibambo, the new taxes would have made sense if Malawi was in the business of assembling and manufacturing new cars.

“In such a case, taxes like these would be designed to encourage purchase of locally-made or assembled cars. Unfortunately, Malawi doesn’t boast of such industry. It’s baffling, therefore, that government has come up with this import tax,” said the Petra leader.

Chibambo further asked government to reduce death duty to 3% saying the current duty is exorbitant.

Death duty is by law payable to government by the estate or family of a deceased person. Currently, it stands at 11%.

“Why should government collect so much from a deceased estate whose breadwinner is no more? I urge the Bingu administration to reduce the top bracket of death duty to 3%,” said Chibambo.

END