Opposition People's Progressive Movement (PPM) President Mark Katsonga has called for the resignation of President Joyce Banda for failing to control the spate of industrial actions and civil unrest.

Katsonga who was speaking at a press briefing this morning in Blantyre in response to the current political and economic situation in Malawi, added that if she does not resign and call for early elections, then president Banda must form a government of national unity (GNU).

"The current spate of industrial actions and civil unrest signify widespread dissatisfaction with the way the current administration is running the country," he said.

In the same vein, Katsonga said the mass defections rocking the government benches in parliament constitute a development where the PP led government has drastically lost the trust both of nomadic parliamentarians and of the citizenry. He said this is a size of waning confidence in the current administration.

"This sums up to a vote of no confidence for the government. It would therefore be wise for the Joyce Banda administration to consider stepping down and call for early elections.

"Alternatively, the PP government should consider starting negotiations with other political parties for a genuine government of national unity which should see us through to the next general elections other than waiting for a total collapse of the government as predicted by Finance Minister Ken Lipenga," Katsonga said.

The 10-day Civil Servants strike ended yesterday afternoon after government and Civil Servants Trade Union (CSTU) reached a deal to raise civil servants' salaries.

Government has given a 61 percent pay hike for the lowest paid and five percent for the highest paid.