Malawi govt ‘make headway’ in arms deal, jet sale probe
Malawi Government has claimed “making progress” with the investigations on whether the sale of the presidential jet during the PP administration were fuelled by kickbacks and corruption.
Government said it wants to establish the truth about the disposal of the French-made jet to Bohnox Enterprises Limited, a subsidiary of Paramount Group, a South Africa-based defence and military equipment supplier.
The sale of the jet, whose purchase by the administration of former president the late Bingu wa Mutharika was also littered with controversies, raised a number of questions in the way it was sold and as to how the money was used.
The then PP Government initially gave conflicting explanations on the sale of the jet, including how the State had used the proceeds of the jet–prompting some donors such as the United Kingdom, opposition parties and civil society organisations (CSOs) to demand an investigation into the sale.
It however later transpired that the jet was “battered off” to offset a $19 million debt owed to Paramount Group.
The previous administration then further claimed it was not aware that Bohnox was part of the Paramount Group.
The public demanded justice and accountability on the sale of the jet.
“We have been making inquiries on the matter and we are making progress,” Ministry of Finance spokesperson Nations Msowoya is quoted saying in the local press.
He said the arms deal is now being pursued “as part of the wider investigations at the Malawi Defence Force where a company has been identified to audit some contracts while the jet deal is a separate matter.”
Msowoya said government is “ certainly making headway with both investigations”
The Dassault Falcon 900EX jet bought in 2009 cost Malawi almost $22m, a move that angered western donors who claimed that the jet was partly bought using donor funds aimed at uplifting the impoverished citizenry.
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zintchiti za Joyce zikumuchitira umboni
Am not against the need to establish the reality of what happened with the jet’s money but the selective justice is my deepest concern what happened to Goodall’s and Kaliati’s corruption cases? And what happened to muluzi’s corruption case? With all these impunities we can’t trust the Dpp led government and they are wrong people to tackle any corruption case of any order.
DPP GOVERNMENT. MENE TURKELO OFFERSINE THINGS FALL APART WINA ATSETSELEKA CHAKA CHAKE NDI CHINO FOSEKI GO DEMETI TAKUTOPELANI KUZIWA KUBELA MAVOTI BASI.
The only thing DPP has done is to send some robbers to steal from Banks, Companies and individuals millions of kwachas for running the govt. Shame on APM and his DPP. JB’s admin. was much better than APM’s. She registered some good change in 3 months. What has this old man done.
JB musalimbane naye. DPP kuba ndi pake.
Mind your mouth please!Amalawi ndiwokwiyatu masiku ano.
Why unnecessarily re-fueling the anger of the already angry Malawians?What are you trying to achieve mr spokesperson?Who are you trying to impress or intimidate? And how many corruption investigations have you successfully concluded so far?Be professional please!!!
Agalu inu leave jb safe
How many endless investigations is the government involved in.? Its high time the government started telling Malawians the outcomes of these stupid investigations, otherwise dont blindfold Malawians, months on end all we here is “we are investigating this……………, we are finalising a report”, stupid embeciles, show us something tangible otherwise shut your stinking mouths, we all know mothing will comeout of your stupid kufufuza. Anyani azikundu…..
I dnt like the new view of the page. would you please nyasatimes official do something about it, atleast the old view was superfly..sizikuoneka bwino work on that plz!