Wednesday 26 May 2010

MALAWI: Value for money?

The office of the president of Malawi has recently announced that every presidential portrait will be changed to account for Bingu's newest title, Professor. This is to celebrate the honorary doctorate he was awarded by East China University.
A similar stunt happened when Bingu was given chairmanship of the African Union. Billboards around the country that broadcast his charming stare, already captioned with "His Excellency, Dr. Bingu Wa Mutharika, President of the Republic of Malawi" had "Chairman of the African Union" added as an appendage. The office of the President has yet to comment on whether or not Bingu will scrap "Dr" for "Prof". However, the clunky-sounding "His Excellency Dr. Prof. Bingu wa Mutharika, President of the Republic of Malawi, Chairman of the African Union" doesn't seem too far-fetched.
The nearly bankrupt state treasury should hardly be spending this sort of money on Bingu's ego. It's ridiculous to spend so much on a detail so minor as adding yet another title to the legion of billboards that make sure Malawians know every crease of his mug. Then again, this is the same government that has spent around $5 million (US) on Bingu's wedding and untold millions on his new jet

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