Joyce Banda is the President of the Southern African nation of Malawi. She took office after the death of Bingu wa Muthirika on Friday, April 6, 2012., a photo by Pan-African News Wire File Photos on Flickr.
Banda chides officials for Madonna attack
Saturday, 13 April 2013 00:00
BLANTYRE. — Malawian President Joyce Banda has “reprimanded” aides who issued a scathing attack on Madonna that fuelled a very public spat with the pop star, a source at the presidency said yesterday.
She “reprimanded officers in the State House Press department for issuing the statement without consulting her,” an official in Banda’s office told AFP on condition of anonymity.
Banda’s State House on Wednesday issued a four-page statement suggesting Madonna demanded VIP treatment, engaged in emotional blackmail, exaggerated her charity work and was a worse guest than Chuck Norris or Bono. It was, the statement said, “strange and depressing” that the singer seemed to want “Malawi to be forever chained to the obligation of gratitude” for having adopted two Malawian children.
Madonna reacted angrily to the statement, accusing the government of peddling lies about her charity work.
“I am saddened that President (Joyce) Banda has chosen to release lies about what we’ve accomplished, my intentions, how I personally conducted myself while visiting Malawi and other untruths,” Madonna said in a statement.
— AFP.
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