PP accuses Malawi govt of wasting time and money in ex-president Muluzi case
Malawi government and Anti-Corruption Bureau came under renewed fire for wasting time and money in prosecuting the so called K1.7 billion corruption case against former president Bakili Muluzi.
The former president alongside his former personal assistant, Lyness Violet Whiskey, are being accused of corruptly acquiring about $11 million (K1.7 billion at that time) when Muluzi was in power between 1994 and 2004 which the State claimed was donor money but court documents show none of Malawi bilateral donors deposited in Muluzi’s personal account as it were alleged.
Malawi government has reportedly spent almost the same K1.7 billion in investigating Muluzi in the case and also for legal expenses in the trial which has been running since 2009.
In a statement, PP spokesman Ken Msonda said it is “very worrisome” that it is now almost nine years since the case started and there seems to be no sign that it will be concluded soon.
Msonda said the most worrisome thing is that the Malawi government is still spending more money on the case.
“Funds that could have been put at a better use for buying drugs in public hospitals, buy the much needed maize, pay teachers’ salaries or even employ doctors and nurses, is being wasted and the government is failing to offer jobs on pretence that there are no funds,” said Msonda.
He also suggested that the case is affecting the health of the former president.
“Naturally when one is going through a court case you have no peace of mind and psychologically affected. We are appealing to the ACB and other government institutions dealing with the case to conclude it as soon as possible,” added Msonda.
The former lead prosecutor Reyneck Matemba, who is also ACB deputy director general, recused himself from the high profile case citing personal reasons.
The prosecution team comprised three members—Matemba, Imran Saidi also from ACB and a hired private practice lawyer Clement Mwala, whose contract with the Bureau has not been renewed yet following its expiry two weeks ago.
ACB said it will reorganise its prosecution team to proceed with the case to its logical conclusion.
Muluzi has always denied any wrong doing, arguing the case was only born out of political vendetta.
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PP and Nsonda why did you not complete these cases when you were in government?
Yoo 9years?
True that but who asked for your opinion? The longer the case goes the more compensation Atcheya will get….if I were you I would concentrate on bringing Amayi home to defend herself on alleged Cashgate case
Sadick JB was never at any time involved in cashgate unlike Bingu and DPP. Cashgate was created abd executed by DPP. Since civil servants knew what had happened they just continued. Ask Mwanamvekha and Daliso Kabambe the two architects of cashgate. Having worked for ACB i can tell u today that Muluzi has no case to answer. It is a well known fact within the Bureau that ACB should not have pursued Muluzi but the Bingu insisted that Muluzi had to be hounded. Corruption and theft is taking place now. The set up has finally been completed with the appointment… Read more »
This is high level corruption, i tell you. The case is an ATM Card to professionary steal from Government. All parties will smile at the end of it all. The only ones left to suffer are the tax payers.
It is indeed sad.