Speaker, Clerk of Parliament in China for massive shopping spree
Barely a week after government recalled Roads Authority officials from a China trip allegedly to save forex, a five-member delegation from the Malawi National Assembly led by Speaker of Parliament, Henry Chimunthu-Banda, has left the country, sent by the President on a shopping spree to Beijing and Dubai.
The five include Clerk of Parliament Matilda Katopola, Human Resources Manager Anne Tsakalaka, Personnal Assistant to the Speaker Victor Sibale, Principle Clerk Menyeheri, and another official, a Mr G. J. Hara.
Investigations carried out by Nyasa Times reveal that all the officials , except the Speaker , own shops in the country and are hiding under the purported “official trip” to buy merchandise for resale in their respective shops.
The officials, whose visas have been processed through Bon Voyage Tours Limited, are each carrying considerable amounts of forex.
The official tally suggests that the trip will cost tax-payers some MK7,750,000 in initial expenses, not counting the additional stop in Dubai.
This contradicts recent government statements to the effect that official trips will be minimised to save forex.
The government is pointing an accusing finger at businessmen, alleging that they are to blame for the forex shortage in the country.
“This money could have helped the country to ease its forex shortage or pay the debts on fuel which the government of President Bingu wa Mutharika has with our suppliers,” said one Lilongwe citizen who declined to give his name for fear of government reprisals.
The team is expected to spend a week each in China and Dubai.
Tagged with: Bingu, Chimunthu Banda, China, forex, Maltilda Katopola, parliament
M’Malawi tili ndi vuto la Sanje, kodi mwayi ukapezeka wokagula zinthu kunja ungaukane? Zoona tili ndi vuto la forex ndi mafuta koma tiyeni tidekhe. Asiyeni ndi nthawi yawo ena azachita chimozimozi m’chaka cha 2014 DPP ikazachotsedwa m’boma.
If you don’t know the implications,you should just shut up your mouth.You don,you sound Malawian.With all the difficulties the country is facing,should we remain quiet?this is not an issue of jealousy.Thanks Nyasa Times for unearthing the dirty.DPP tizaonana 2014!
Tilibe nazo ntchito zimenezo zitipindulira chiyani? chifukwa choti forex yavuta ndiye anthu asayende analakwa iwowo kukhala ma civo servant should the country be paralised because of of the forex shortage . Nyasa times can you be constructive when writing your articles i thought you are professionals as far as iam concerned this story is not complete i dont think that delegation can go shopping, they are on official duties. If that was the case Mr. Chimunthu Banda could have gone with his wife and the rest of the team with their spouses.Yinayi ndi nsanje mumafuna mukanakhala inu dikirani nthawi yanu idzakwana. Ife bora chakudya chikupezeka zinthu zili bwino moyo wa munthu umadwala pena koma moyo umapitirila ndiye dziko likudwala forex ndi fuel shortage .posachedwapa lichira.
Mphamvu ya olamulira 2014 woo mulira simunati.
Mphanvu zokuba ndi choncho. Iwenso bimbi ndiwe munkhungu. Wopusa z
u said masankho ayenda bo lero mukulira makape inu let them shop
ndiye akufuna 7 year term mukhaula
afiti wopempheradi ee.mmene timavutikira pakatipa zamafuta ena akupeza ndalama zosewelesta.DPP dyeranitu ndalama zimenezo.2014 mumva mmbebe.Nga sanalakwitse agalu inu
Anthuwa sanawine 2014 adzabelanso. tsegulani maso mudzaona. I wonder if votes will really change a gvt in MW. May b we should listen to what tembo is saying on the rigging tricks dpp used.