Western diplomat ‘shocked’ Mutharika is still President after K145m Karim donation scandal

A  Western diplomat is shocked that President Peter Mutharika is still President of Malawi and asking for another term even after the contentious K145 million donation he received from Zameer Karim of  Pioneer Investment  suspected to have been proceeds of crime in much-publicised Malawi Police Service (MPS) food rations scam.

Mutharika: Described the money as an honest donation

Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB)  investigation report revealed that Karim deposited the said amount in a  governing Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) bank account at Standard Bank whose sole signatory is President Mutharika.

Pioneer Investment deposited the K145 million into the DPP account immediately after getting a K2.7 billion payment from MPS for supplying food rations.

The diplomat, who  opted for anonymity for obvious consequences,  said in an interview  with Nyasa Times in Lilongwe that in the Western counties it could be deemed  immoral for a President to be asking for another term with a corruption case hanging over his head.

“I think Malawians are very patient and passive people. If it were in my country the moment it was discovered that the President had corruptly received tainted money in his account, he was going to be removed,” he said.

The diplomat said he decided to give an  exclusive interview after he visited a rural area three weeks ago where he was shocked with the poverty levels.

“What I saw there made me cry. I have never been depressed like this before. To think that these rural people are living in abject poverty made my heart shudder when people are get living large with corrupt money,” said the diplomat.

“A mother was carrying a three month old baby on her back and a five year old girl walking on foot going to the hospital and they told me they had done 9 kilometers of the 15 kilometers journey, this really touched me,” narrated the diplomat.

DPP Secretary General Greizelder Jeffrey  is record to gave  said she was not aware of the K145 million in the party’s coffers.

But  DPP spokesperson Nicholas Dausi, who is also Minister of Homeland Security, said DPP refunded  the money to Pioneer Investment, a move the Malawi Law Society described as an admission of wrongdoing.

The ACB later cleared Mutharika saying he  did not personally benefit from the K145 million.

Mutharika withdrew about K65 million from the account at Standard Bank before the revelations came to light.

Just a few months after the K145 million deposit, Karim bought 5 Nissan Pickup vehicles worth K85 million and donated and registered them in Mutharika’s name.

Karim and some senior police officials are facing corruption charges related to the K2.9 billion food rations deal which many feel is just a smokescreen to make the DPP look like is fighting corruption.

“Its sad that Malawians did not rise and demanded justice  with the clear evidence of corruption and abuse of resources,” said the diplomat.

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Chikumbutso
Chikumbutso
5 years ago

We know Gearge Bush waged a war against Hussein for no reason and you come here telling us what? Go and tell Bush and colleagues out there not here mr Diplomat. Why hid your name if you are clean? Our poverty is not a lisence to insult us. If you are of good will just help that woman you met and her kids so that your grief should really matter otherwise you will be equated to a vulture.

Juju
Juju
5 years ago

Western world yake iti? Why can’t they remove Trump against all the scandals including sexual harrasment, tax fraud , election tampering etc?

gwenenthe mwale
gwenenthe mwale
5 years ago

just pack up and go
mr president
you are a crook

joji wina
5 years ago

Bodza la Nthondo..Why would a Western diplomat who feels sorry for Malawi on an important issue opt for anonymity? lies, lies, and more lies from Jimmy nthondo. We all know who vigilant and open westerners are when it comes to issues of accountability hence my doubt on truth about this piece by a man who is a mercenary reporter.

dalo
dalo
5 years ago

Majority of malawians not educated thats why we still clapping our hands to mbava up to now,shame to us malawians…when shall we open our eyes and react??? Vote these mbava out of office.

Duncan
5 years ago

Although someone was cleared in thieving MK145 million by the toothless institution, the matter will resurface next month when we have new government. He will have to explain to Malawians what a hell he was doing with our tax payers money..

Some of us wonder why these Presidential candidates don’t talk strongly about this issue.

Rhoda
Rhoda
5 years ago

I hate DPP governemnt for life. I was once Dpp but I have never seen heartless people like these Tthey have been promising things they can not do. As of today chileka airport is in shumble state and even the mere air craft we have and boosting around for, were donated to us by Ethiopians in which 49% of proceeds goes to Ethiopia, CEO is an Ethiopian, all Engineers are Ethiopians, pilots majority of them are Ethiopians even the mere tickets are indicated ET. Which flag carrier do u boost for?. The only jet we had was sold by these… Read more »

bwampini
bwampini
5 years ago

ukudabwa chani? many african countries, leadership yake ndi imeneyi. enriching themselves. nanga ukanafika kwathu, ukanalira kangati? even if we change leadership, nkhani yake ndi imeneyi, enriching themselves, ma kampeni onsewa akuchitika in the name of kukonza ziko koma they know, its all about enriching themselves.

abiti
abiti
5 years ago

The sins of western gov’t cannot surpass our sins
If they are professional crooks and thieves in the world
..these are Europeans…talk of offshore accounts who can beat them.
Please stop poking your nose into Malawi affairs you are not holier than thou.
Mxiiii

John mwelomba
John mwelomba
5 years ago

The media has a tendency to rate so called western diplomats as unquestionable.

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