Malawi ‘grand corruption’ probe undermined: Auditor General’s K577bn cashgate report being compromised
The Malawi’s Auditor General Stevenson Kamphasa is reportedly facing intimidation and harassment from senior cabinet ministers implicated in the K577 billion (about $856 million) plunder of public money between 2009 and 2013 after names had leaked to the media.
Kamphasa confirmed National Audit Office (NAO) has submitted 13 files related to the pilferage of public fund between 2009 and December 31 2014 following the report prepared after the findings by the business advisory firm PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) titled Financial Analysis Report: Reconstruction of the Malawi Government Cashbook for Purposes of Further Investigation.
However, under political pressure, the Auditor General said the report has not judged anyone to be in wrong doing, saying ministers like any other person and businesses analysed in the report have constitutional right to be presumed innocent until proven guilty.
But NAO sources said information was being tampered following political pressure as ministers with links to corruption allegations seek to protect themselves.
President Peter Mutharika’s trusted allies are among 7 ministers implicated in the report.
Also named on the “list of shame” are Asian business persons.
Some sections of the society have expressed concern that the report might be compromised because of President Mutharika’s vast interest on the matter as even some cabinet ministers, including Labour minister Henry Mussa, were named in the K92 billion Bingu report.
Opposition leaders have been pushing for the report with Peoples Party vice president Kamlepo Kalua claiming the K577 billion has now ballooned to K1 trillion.
But NAO sources said the figure has been trimmed to K260 billion.
Kamphasa refused to comment on the matter.
Public Affairs Committee (PAC) asked government to speed up prosecutions of those involved in the K577 billion cashgate, saying there should be no sacred cows.
PAC chairman Felix Chingota courageously told Mutharika in the face to ensure he brings DPP and government officials to book if evidence linked them to the multibillion loot of government money at Capital Hill, the seat of government in Lilongwe.
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We love this never ending cash gate. Long live cash gate!!!!!
Peter don’t go outside the country, if you want to do so fire 7 ministers first before we approve your trip. This is completely inept by President.
What JOHN is saying that Ministers implicated in the 577 billion scam are intimidating NOA offices is a very serious matter. These people need protection. CSOs , opposition parties ,Religious leaders, law society and donors hear what is happening. We Malawi answer are suffering because of these people
Cry my beloved country. It is very sad and very very very bad indeed if people we had put in positions trusting that they should run the affairs of our country have been stealing from the nation. They want to cling to positions for their wellbeing , They are disregarding the responsibility and trust they were given by the nation. If they are intimidating officers at the national audit office it is then proof enough that they have some thing to hide.
I see the report trimmed to skip some names as was the case with the first report during JB where the likes of Roy Kachale Banda were mentioned in the initial report. It later happened that those names for Politicians in the first report disappeared leaving names only belonging to Civil Servants. It will also be the same this time around; take note .
When you mention Henry Mussa I thought you are linking him to K577 bln but alas only to see you linking him to JB’s political witch hunting on Bingu. Please Wanga Gwede give us the list of the so called 7 ministers. Don’t you want your readers to know them? Hahahahaha watch this space.
I WORK FOR THE NATIONAL AUDIT OFFICE. I HAVE TO REPORT HERE THAT MINISTERS INCLUDING HENRY MUSSA, GEORGE CHAPONDA ARE INTIMIDATING US WITH DISMISSALS AND ABDUCTIONS. PLEASE RIGHTS ACTIVISTS, DONORS, HELP.
PETER MUTHARIKA SEEMS NOT TO CARE ABOUT OUR FATE. THESE MINISTERS INDEED STOLE MONEY FROM GOVT.
Useless and careless government and leadership we have in Malawi!! I feel sorry for the majority poor!!!! God will still judge these people!!!!
@john….it is evidently clear in your comment above that you don’t work for the National Audit Office. Only an imbecile can believe that you work for NAO. There is no John at NAO. I guess this is just your pseudo. You, as allegedly working with NAO, were supposed to have the list of those 7 ministers implicated in this saga. But all what we hear is Mussa this and Chaponda that, without even information linking them to that report. Nothing. I mean there is completely nOthiNg, even a figure of the funds they stole individually. Is it really difficult to… Read more »
@Nyondo…………You too is evidently clear in your comment above that you aren’t Nyondo but one of them!! Seriously this case does not deserve your “kkkkkkk”!! Suffice to inform you that time will still push you to the right corner! Let’s wait and see!! You can be “clever” on people but will never be “clever” for ever”