Raiply Malawi most corrupt institution —MP Mkandawire

Malawians believe Raiply Malawi Limited, wood products’ manufacturers, is most corrupt institution according to member of parliament for  Mzimba West (Peoples Party, PP) Harry Mkandawire.

Mkandawire was speaking in parliament when he challenged Minister of Natural Resources, Energy and Mining Bright Msaka that Raiply  does not owe government of Malawi.

The legislator said “the truth”  is that “Raiply owes the Government of Malawi millions of kwacha” saying Minister Msaka  is aware of that.

“I don’t know why he is sitting on that piece of information,” said Mkandawire.

He then told the Houses: “The feeling from Malawians around that forestry is that Raiply is the most corrupt institution. Some of us are defending Raiply here because we are benefiting from it—which is a fact.”

However, Msaka insisted that Raiply does not owe Malawi government billions., saying Mkandawire’s ststament is “completely false “ and Iasked him to bring evidence” because according to my information, Raiply owes the Malawi Government zero in terms of Royalties.”

Msaka said Mkandawire made the statement “simply to buttress a false statement made before this House which is very unfortunate.”

Members of parliament Wednesday afternoon spent 27 minutes listening to a recording from a previous day just to prove if one of the members in the House  said  Raiply ‘Owns’ or ‘Owes’ during his contribution.

Apparently, part of the recording in question said “RAIPLY owns government of Malawi…”

The Deputy Speaker of Parliament Esther Mcheka Chilenje who sanctioned the playback said she initially thought the playback was to find out if the member had insinuated that one of the ministers in the House had a hearing problem.

Meanwhile, Mcheka Chilenje expressed her disappointment towards MPs on what she said was a tendency of wasting time on issues that have nothing to do with public interest and national development.

The deputy speaker said it was high time members started observing the rules of debate and column of the House and avoid bringing the House into disrepute.

“We have to understand that whatever we are doing here is being covered by the media and people are following all our deliberations.

“What do you think people who we are representing would make out of this issue. We have spent 27 minutes listening a recording just for an issue that is not in any way important at all. I plead with you, stop bringing unnecessary issues into the House,” Chilenje said.

In the House earlier, Dedza South West MP Clement Mlombwa (Malawi Congress Party-MCP) accused a Cabinet Minister of taking bribes from Raiply Malawi Limited resulting to a court injunction restraining government from implementing a moratorium, stopping individuals and some organization from harvesting their trees.

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