Malawi Watch accuses JB of double-standards
One of the country’s civil society groupings, Malawi Watch has accused President Joyce Banda of playing double standards on Capitol Hill looting of public funds christened as Cashgate through which over K13 billions of tax-payers was stolen.
Malawi Watch has since asked President Banda to stop blaming past regimes over the infamous corruption scandal and demanded her to ‘clean her house first before pointing fingers at others’.
Malawi Watch Executive Director, Billy Banda told journalists in Blantyre that President Banda’s government was taking Malawians for a ride, and feared of a duplication of another 50-year era in which the country failed to make progressive strides in terms of development.
“Malawians are not treated very well especially by President Joyce Banda’s government. There is inconsistent information given out on some of the pertinent issues such as the sale of the jet as well as stealing of money at Capitol Hill. She should tell us the truth about the role she played in cashgate,” said Banda.
Malawi Watch head said he strongly believes President Banda has a hand in cashgate as the reason why she was not telling the truth, adding “She feigns ignorance of cashgate. Malawians have been taken for a ride far too long. She has done more harm than good”.
“She (Banda) is making suspicious arrests which we doubt if conviction will be secured. Why is Banda pointing fingers at past regimes instead of cleaning her house?”
The human rights activist argued that President Banda was disrespectful to those who helped her to be where she is right now, saying she has a culture of being ungrateful.
“UDF built her political career, and then late President Bingu wa Mutharika elevated her status and made her what she is today. But instead of being respectful, she has chosen to be ungrateful and tried to implicate them in her mess. She is trying very hard to buy public sympathy. But Malawians are wiser now; she should better clear her hands”.
And Unionist and former president for Malawi Congress for Trade Union, Luther Mambala said there was a need for government to justify how jet money was spent and which companies were given contracts to procure drugs and maize as alleged.
“Who authorised jet payments to Paramount, and why wasn’t the money channelled into right account for payments? We need to be given tenders bids of companies that sold drugs and maize to government as we are told. Otherwise it is clear, we have a government which is full of liars, we can’t trust it,” said Mambala.
Meanwhile, Malawi Watch has asked British High Commission office to tread carefully when commenting on issues surrounding cashgate especially on the need to disclose names of people and companies involved in the scandals, arguing in United Kingdom (UK) they are transparent and would not withhold important information in a serious matter like cashgate as is the case in Malawi.
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