Zambia's President turn down invitation by Malawi's Bingu wa Mutharika to attend the 16th Summit of the COMESA Authority.

By John Chola – LUSAKA/08-10-2011 Zambia's President Michael Sata has turned down an invitation by the President of Mawian Bingu wa Mutharika to attend the 16th Summit of the COMESA Authority which is scheduled to take place on 14th and 15th October, 2011 in Lilongwe, Malawi. Sata said he was unable to attend next week’s summit in Malawi because of the predicament he found himself in regrading the 2007 incident when he was deported from that country without any valid reason. Sata was speaking Saturday morning when he received two credentials from David Chisala Bandawe, the Special Representative of Wa Mutharika. Bandawe presented Sata with two credentials, one regarding an invitation and the other, a message of congratulation to his counterpart for winning the September 20,2011 elections. However, Sata told the Malawan envoy that until Malawi formally deals with the predicament, he found it difficult to travel for fear of possible embarrassment since immigration authorities there still regarded him Personal Non Grata. “His Excellency Bingu wa Mutharika is aware of the predicament I am in. I would have loved to take this trip as my first official foreign visit. I thought you were bringing the revocation but you have not. Once you have rectified those issues I will come some other time,” the Zambian President said. Sata has instead assigned his Vice-President, Dr. Guy Scott,MP, to lead the Zambian delegation to the COMESA Summit. Dr Scott is also expected to deliver a special message to President Wa Mutharika on Zambia’s displeasure about the 2007 incident. Ends....