Malawi ‘s Auditor General under political duress to shield corrupt gangsters – Analyst

University of Malawi’s Chancellor College-based political professor, Mustafa Hussein,  has said Auditor General Stepheson Kamphasa is under political duress  not to disclose names of serving Cabinet ministers implicated in the recent forensic audit report.

Stephenson Kamphasa, the Auditor General: Under duress
Stephenson Kamphasa, the Auditor General: Under duress

The opposition has claimed seven Cabinet ministers were implicated  in the forensic audit report covering the period 2009 to December 2014 which established that about K236 billion and not K577 billion in public funds as initially estimated could not be accounted for.

Kamphasa presented the audit report to Parliament in June, but the lack of detail such as names of the alleged culprits has irked some sections of societyaccusing President Peter Mutharika of shielding ministers involved.

And Kamphasa has changed his tune saying no minister is named in the report.

But  Hussein said Kamphasa’s remarks show that politicians have interfered with the Auditor General’s work.

“The auditor general could have come out very clearly on the available files at this time when politicians are fighting on the same. We have now started suspecting political interference and it has showed complications for the process of the auditing,” said Hussein.

He further  demanded transparency and accountability on the 13 files submitted to the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) arguing that the public should know the truth about the sealed documents.

Meanwhile, Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) vice-chairperson Kamlepo Kalua has  questioned Kamphasa’s independence saying his body language during interview on state broadcaster MBC  showed he was acting under political duress.

“Do u think Billions of Kwacha were stolen by ghosts? The AG further says the names in the files are for suppliers none of which are senior government officials, are you sure ordinary Malawians have got the ability to swindle billions of Kwachas without help from senior government officials?,” wrote Kalua on Facebook.

In July this year, Kamphasa said  Attorney General’s office had advised against releasing the names of individuals and businesses named in the audit report for fear of legal implications and jeopardising investigations.

Malawi Law Society (MLS) also backed the Attorney General’s position, saying releasing the names suspected of abusing funds could affect investigations.

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CHIKUTUMBWE
CHIKUTUMBWE
7 years ago

IF GOVERNMENT CONTINUES TO PLAY A GAME OF HIDE AND SEEK ON THE ISSUE OF CORRUPT MINISTERS, THE REST OF THE CIVIL SERVICE WILL HAVE TO CHOICE BUT TO JOIN THE ROTTEN MINISTERS IN LOOTING PUBLIC FUNDS.

I ALSO DOUBT IF LAW ABIDING CITIZENS WILL BE ENCOURAGED TO REMIT THEIR TAXES WITH THIS KIND OF BEHAVIOUR BY OUR MINISTERS.

MJUTHARIKA MUST ACT ON THIS!!!!!!!

sugar free
sugar free
7 years ago

Musiyeni kamphasa akanchotsa pa tikiti adya nji

Fisi Dausi
Fisi Dausi
7 years ago

A Kamphasa I empathise with your situation. So as we did to Mr Mbendera, I offer you a free advice. Resign with your life intact, otherwise mufa nazo izo anthu omwe mukuchita protect ali phee kudyerera ndi azikazi awo.

That’s a free advice for you with no consultation fees.

chimpeni jamesi
7 years ago

Iwe Kamlepo you are a stupid COWARD mbuzi ya munthu….REVEAL THE NAMES or shut up for good. Kamphasa is another fool too. The more he takes time to reveal the sooner, he can be eliminated…So the best for him is to reveal the names and police arrests them and nobody will miss into Thambani Road.kkkkkkkk

President Chidakhwa
President Chidakhwa
7 years ago

Kamphasa lacks indpendence hence a political puppet and he should resign to save his face, otherwise we need ACCA investigation on his qualification for contradicting Vice chair person of PAC. Otherwise even the president’s response seem to lack logic. Why sending the chief secretary to Auditor general (AG) instead of the President summoning the Auditor General? Public Auditor Act no. 6 of 2003 requires in some circumstances the AG to meet the President in some circumstances like this high profile scandal. Two the president is the boss who can call the AG without problem. Why using the chief secretary?

OMEX70
OMEX70
7 years ago

Malawi is a loser as far as Kamphasa is there as Auditor Generala and L. Kondowe as ACB boss. These people are bootlickers of DPP led government. We are praying hard for God to intervene in a powerful way.

Angel of Doom
Angel of Doom
7 years ago

Reporting in Malawi is very confusing. Take this article: “Malawi ‘s Auditor General under political duress to shield corrupt gangsters – Analyst” Who is the analyst here? Hussain or the journalist? And where is the analysis to support the contention that the AG is under political duress, and is shielding political gangsters. I am confused, does being a Chancellor College-based political professor make one an analyst? And since when were personal views an analysis of a situation? Readers in Malawi are slowly being brain washed by middle of the road reporting, and slowly but surely the populous is beginning to… Read more »

Maunisi
Maunisi
7 years ago

Agree Anania and Saphia is a good example in the bible. What are these people doing now, they think we are fools and we were the ones to steal the funds. Mr Kamphasa be careful DPP will kill u as they have killed Maxon Mbendera. They want to look clean by killing everyone who has information against their dirtness. Alhomwe mukuphetsa anthu Mmalawi muno, Munyenyembe, you killed, Bingu was killed now Maxon shame.

Gatuso
Gatuso
7 years ago
Reply to  Maunisi

Nanunso mukamba zopeperatu apa. Are you under duress to comment?

VYOTO
VYOTO
7 years ago

THIS IS CLEAR CASE OF PUTTING CLUELESS AND WRONG PEOPLE IN SENIOR GOVERNMENT POSITIONS.MR KAMPHASA AND KONDOWE, THIS IS NOT A COMPLICATED CASE,IT IS NOT CONSPIRACY TO MURDER OR ATTEMPTED MURDER CASE WHICH IS DIFFICULT TO PROVE, RATHER IT IS A SIMPLE CASE INVOLVING FINANCIAL TRANSACTIONS.ASSUMING, PAYMENT VOUCHERS,PAID CHEQUES, BANK ACCOUNTS, BANK STATEMENTS, PROCUREMENT FILES AND RELATED DOCUMENTS AMONGST OTHERS ARE THERE, WHAT KIND OF INVESTIGATIONS ARE YOU CARRYING OUT TO TAKE THIS LONG???? AT FIRST NAO CONDUCTED THE AUDIT, NO COMPLETE PRODUCT, THEN PwC JUST DID CASH BOOK ANALYSIS WHICH NAO COULD HAVE DONE ON ITS ON, THEN THIS… Read more »

Emeneka
Emeneka
7 years ago
Reply to  VYOTO

The problem is not Kamphasa but you people. What will it take for you to realise that Kamphasa is dull. Have you guys listened to him trying to explan issues? He doesnt have qualities os an Auditor General he is a Clerical Officer. Forgive him ntchito yamkulira kwambiri. Every senior civil servants keeps wondering if ACCA is worth the value we place on the paper. These are worthless paper qualifications. In Kamphasas case it is even bad because he doesnt have a college degree so he is an artisan.

Sumbuleta and Gloria Banda
Sumbuleta and Gloria Banda
7 years ago

Mzako wapita ku MEC, watsala iwe Kamphasa. Remember Ananias and Saphira? You are next to go. God is watching!

Thinktank
Thinktank
7 years ago

That’s nonsense to attribute Mbendera death to the handling of 2014 elections.MCP lost…DPP won….and DPP will win again if these poor souls in MCP will continue operating MCP as central region party. The math has never been,will never be there for central region alone to make MCP win elections.Justice Mbendera has died as result of some heart Issues.To attribute his death to God’s wrath is plain wrong.

Chinderechakufikapo
7 years ago
Reply to  Thinktank

You have been saying JB ran away bcoz of cash gate scandal,to some of us we say she is the one who engineered forensic audit. Ngati kuli kuthawa akuwopa kuphedwa pazifukwa zomwe m’kudziwana nokha ndi ndale zanu zamanyizo. Without her nobody could have been prosecuted or jailed. Since we ventured into multiparty politics in 1994 which president acted the way jb did? How many politicians get jailed by stealing gvt money/misusing public resources? Ngati mkukana mangani anu apa nanu tikuwoneni ngatidi ndinu a chilungamo. Apa zikuwonetselathu kuti anamangidwa aja n’chifukwa milanduyo m’nali m’tayiipeza itayamba kale ma kape inu

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