PANAPRESS
Panafrican News Agency
Story of a people, not me - Malawi's Banda tells UN
New York, Malawi (PANA) - Malawi President Joyce Banda has said the peaceful transition that saw her ascendancy to the high office of president following the sudden death of her predecessor, Bingu wa Mutharika, is not her personal story.
"Mine is not a story of an individual, but a people," she said, during her maiden address to the United Nations General Assembly in New York Wednesday.
Banda said the peaceful transition happened because "Malawians chose democracy".
"The people of Malawi have made a decisive choice, they have chosen democracy," she said.
Banda, Africa's second female president after Liberia's Ellen Johnston Sirleaf, also acknowledged the role the world played to ensure that Malawi did not descend into chaos after the death of the 78-year-old economist-turned-politician.
"On behalf of all Malawians I appreciate the support I got during that time," she said.
President Banda then outlined her vision for Malawi, telling the world body her government was on a journey.
"Malawi is on a journey, a journey to change its trajectory," she said. "As a new president and a new member of this global community I ask for your support."
Banda said Malawi was in support of global treaties like the Istanbul Declaration on fair trade and convention on the adverse effects on climate change that had led to floods and drought in various parts of the world.
"Implementation of these issues is crucial," she said.
She also said her government supported moves to reform the UN Security Council to be more inclusive because Africa represented the biggest community of members.
-0- PANA RT/MA 26Sept2012
"Mine is not a story of an individual, but a people," she said, during her maiden address to the United Nations General Assembly in New York Wednesday.
Banda said the peaceful transition happened because "Malawians chose democracy".
"The people of Malawi have made a decisive choice, they have chosen democracy," she said.
Banda, Africa's second female president after Liberia's Ellen Johnston Sirleaf, also acknowledged the role the world played to ensure that Malawi did not descend into chaos after the death of the 78-year-old economist-turned-politician.
"On behalf of all Malawians I appreciate the support I got during that time," she said.
President Banda then outlined her vision for Malawi, telling the world body her government was on a journey.
"Malawi is on a journey, a journey to change its trajectory," she said. "As a new president and a new member of this global community I ask for your support."
Banda said Malawi was in support of global treaties like the Istanbul Declaration on fair trade and convention on the adverse effects on climate change that had led to floods and drought in various parts of the world.
"Implementation of these issues is crucial," she said.
She also said her government supported moves to reform the UN Security Council to be more inclusive because Africa represented the biggest community of members.
-0- PANA RT/MA 26Sept2012
