Nankhumwa justifies his mind boggling wealth: Malawi cash-rich minister explains his multimillion donations, financial sources
Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Kondwani Nankhumwa has revised down the value of the donation of an ambulance, 300 bicycles and two motorbikes he made to his Mulanje central constituency from K33 million to K14 million after unnamed people reported him to Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) to probe him.
When he made the donation recently, Nankhumwa said it was worth K23 million but observer say the figure could be around K40 million including the cash handouts.
Nankhuma has given Nyasa Times documents that include receipets that put the value of the donation at K14, 750,200.00.
According to the documents, the ambulance was bought from United Kingdom as a second-hand vehicle valued at 2,700 pounds (K2.7 million), two motorcycles were bought from Shai Investment Company in Lilongwe at K850, 000.00 each while the 300 bicycles were bought from Farmers World at K34,500 each (totaling to K10,350,000.00).
Nankhumwa descried that he has been reported to ACB, dsaying the whole issue is political and pledged to corporate with the Bureau.
“I am not shaken; I have documentation of all the transactions concerning the purchase of those donated items,” said Nankhumwa in an interview.
Quizzed on the source of funds for the donation, the minister said he used personal money generated from some of his personal businesses to buy the donated items.
“I have three maize mills in Mulanje; I have a radio station that generates a lot of revenue among other businesses. And mind you I have been a Parliamentarian since 2009 and I have been serving some of my income. Let those interested and in authority investigate me, if at all I wrongly acquired my money,” explained Nankhumwa.
While refusing to speak more on the issue, Nankhumwa wondered why other politicians have not been questioned about the source of their money when they donate items valued in millions of Kwachas in their respective constituencies.
“We have seen ministers or Parliamentarians giving out millions of cash of their personal money in football bonanzas and other charity activities and nobody speaks. I would rather remain silent and be vindicated by those that are in authority to do so.
“There are people who know me as former Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) employee with nothing to show for. But people forget that in life we pass through stages, we cannot go through same stages, unless we accept to be so. We must learn to accept realities this life offers.”
ACB Director General, Lucas Kondowe confirmed to the media receiving a complaint against Nankhumwa but refused to comment more on the issue, arguing it will be premature to discuss the complaint before through investigations.
Critics have labeled Nankhumwa as amongst top five richest ministers in the cabinet of President Peter Mutharika who amassed more wealth in the last two years, giving him more political stamina to hold the balance of power and fend off challengers including former legislator in the constituency Brown Mpinganjira who is now growing cold feet to attempt a challenge.
Malawians took to social media to ridicule the cash-rich minister after his “obscene display of wealth”.
“Tales of abrupt opulence,” wrote one Favour Munyapa on Facebook.
Malawi is reeling from a mass corruption scandal christened as Cashgate which London based auditors RSM (formerly Baker Tilly) revealed about K13 billion was lost from 2012.
About K236 billion was lost from 2005.
And Minister of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development, George Chaponda, is facing investigations on the purchase of maize from Zambia which is suspected to have corruption election.
Chaponda said his involvement was minimal and denied wrongdoing in the matter.
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Mr Nankhumwa…Malawians are not fools..we know a corrupt person or transaction when we see one! Nokhanso mukudziwa! Not shaken….we are not surprised! But one day Malawians and the Law will shake you! You are still younh Mapuya…even if this takes 20 years you will be physically fit to stand trial….pamsana pa njobvu sagelapo…tsiku lina mudzatsika ndipo lamulo lidzagwira ntchito yake. Ingosungani bwino ma 4eceipt mudzawafuna!! Why are Malawians targetting you when others are doing the same? Tangoyambako apa….moti anzanu ena aonanso kuti a Malawi atopa kuwabela nkumwabonisa! Am sure your colleagues have learnt a lesson….Malawians are fed up of politicians… Read more »
Kkkkk. Nakhumwa ukuululanso?
Pali chani apa. Nakhumwa mukungodana naye. ACB anthu ndiye akukuseweretsanitu
He is a big thief and a friend of most the Indians! He should deny this that HISCO Limited is building a house for him in kanjedza as token of appreciation! what happened, find out! Government lost a lot of monies
Midnight Six thieves
impact of democracy and politics in dvpment. now it has observed critically that this ACB is used most in political issues whereby since 1994 until nw only deals with money that has been miss used by this politicians.. ACB.. obvious they will never find the solution on these problem UNTIL our readers know what politics, dvpment and economics is.
Hahaha dogs without tails. What is MK23 million for any intelligent person who has brains? ACB please please you have better things to do than spend resources being used by fools. If somebody has evidence of wrongdoing please just give it to law enforcers don’t waste our money. I am not a minister but I can give out MK40 million without thinking twice. Too many poor people in this country. Bitter and depressed people.
Let people steal and plunder money. We have no one to blame. Its our fault!
Macra is indeed behind Nankhumwa money making business with aim to pump political balloon in 2019 for him. How much can a maize mill and a local radio station accumulate millions with surplus to splash at this point in time???? Guns or Roses would to such mulhopwana wonanala..
Zifufuzenidi mbava zonsezi.