Activists want Minister Mkaka to explain sudden wealth

October 22, 2020 Nyasa Times 37 Comments

Governance activists have  asked Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Eisenhower Mkaka  to explain his sudden wealth.

Mkaka says his wealth is perfectly legitimate

Mkaka, who is also the Secretary General for Malawi Congress Party (MCP),  is reported to have amassed more wealth since change of government  and is amongst top richest ministers in the cabinet of President Lazarus Chakwera.

Following confirmation by Malawi Revenue Authority (MRA) that  Mkaka  has purchased to motor vehicles since getting in power in June , some civil society organisations are seeking information from the tax authority and banks to justify claims the Minister said he was getting rich through private business.

Organisations such as Malawi Watch and Centre for Democracy and Economic Development Initiatives (CDEDI) want information on tax returns from Mkaka’s business to justify his claims.

They are also probing how he remitted cash to United Kingdom for the purchase of two vehicles which he cleared duty free as part of his parliamentary privileges. One of the vehicles is a Mercedenz Benz bought at nearly K45 million.

They also want discloser on “gifts” he has received both in cash and assets since June.

But Mkaka, said apart from the compensation he got from First Capital Bank after winning a court case against the bank, he has several sources of income which enabled him to afford this car.

He further disclosed that his  sprawling on Plot number 47/1/320 was constructed in 2010 while working at the First Capital Bank, formerly First Merchant Bank and at the time, it was estimated the house would cost US$300, 000 to construct.

“I have not moved into official ministerial house by choice and government is paying me rental; of course, at a rate much lower than that government pays if they rent a house on their own.

“It is a clean house built much way before I started politics,” said Mkaka.

He  challenged  people to use the Access to Information Act to establish facts about his wealth.

Recently, Member of Parliament for Mzimba North Yeremiya Chihana (Alliance for Democracy-Aford) made allegations that some officials in the President Chakwera administration were corrupt, receiving money from some Malawian businesspersons of Asian descent.

He was stampeded by MCP legislators to sweep the matter under the carpet.

CDEDI executive director Sylvester Namiwa said there is indeed concerns of ministers involved in soliciting bribes.

He adds that what is particularly disturbing is the fact that all this is happening at a time when President  Lazarus Chakwera is busy ‘clearing the rubble’ of corruption in the country.

Cdedi director said law enforcing authorities should also be investigating those in government  otherwise  Malawians will then construe that ‘clearing the rubble’ stance is just some political rhetoric, when in actual sense it is political persecution since his administration is only targeting those connected to the immediate past ruling party, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP).

Follow and Subscribe Nyasa TV :
Follow us in Twitter

37 replies on “Activists want Minister Mkaka to explain sudden wealth”

  1. Chizungu chanu cha “immediate past………blah blah blah blah blah ” chanditopetsa tsopano. Pezani mau ena otanthauza the same. Every report is ” the immediate past bonongwe, immediate past khobwe, immediate past usipa.” Aaaarrgh!! It’s too much oooo

  3. Kuba basi. Nkhope imeneyi, mutu umenewu ukuwoneka ngati unali wolemela? Zina, tisamanamizane. Munthuyu waba

  4. According to reliable source, corruption and bribery is growing especially within MCP ranks. The MCP people are so desperate to get rich. Mia is at the centre of the transportation and construction shady deals. Reason why Mia is Works Minister is because he wants to recoup the money he spent during the campaign.

    Malawi we go in circles. Similar mafias as they were during DPP time are masquerading in MCP.

    1. Alekeni anzanu abeko, u think mia can be there without getting back his money? Achotse akamaliza akuuzani osadanda

  5. NDIMATI ACB SINKHANI KOMA NTHAWI IJA A KONDWANI NANKHUMWA ANAWAFUNSA KOMA AMATEMBA. ZODIAK NDIYE NYANYE ADZITI MCHANI, ONANI NKHANI YA CROSSROADS NDI STATE HOUSE 12, CHAKUTI MILLION.A MVULA PAJA NOW YOU A STOGGE FOR TONSE, CANT YOU SAY SOMETHING ON THIS PLEASE FOR A CHANGE

  6. Malawians at times think everyone needs to be poor, its like being rich is a crime. Obviously now that he is in government don’t expect his life to be the same, moyo wake wa suntha basi, he sacrificed to be where he is at, what about you? What have u done or sacrificed for your life to change? Aim high and don’t hate to see a rich Malawian. You should actually be happy. I don’t mean he should be stealing in govt but hey we can’t have poor ministers running our government or else they will steal more.

    1. Not the point. The man is a public servant. He has to explain. He is obligated to be accountable to his employers. The malawians

  7. Some of our ministers have on more than one occasion surprised me with their defence of Indians. Could this be a case of “not biting the finger whicb feeds you”?

  8. Nkaka, Mia and Chimwendo Banda are the names featuring highly at mosques among Indians. These three are collecting huge bribes promising Indians that they will be protected from prosecution. Take my word no Indian will see a day in court let alone be jailed.

    1. Please don’t bring a place of worship into the matter.

      Indians aren’t the only people to use the mosque .

    2. Cheap talk Zio Ine. You seriously think there are dumb people who can buy this nonsense?? So these guys are receiving bribes to be shielded from what exactly??? So the Indian that neeed protection are going about in mosques talking that they are bribing Ministers to be shield and subsequently exposing themselves of their corrupt deeds??? Ye of little brain matter speak just because and type just because you have alot of idle time. SHAME!

      1. Dismiss it at your own risk.just like women discuss men in saloons , Indians also discuss politicians at mosques. For your sake just visit one of the mosques on Friday and you will see rich Indians chatting together and this is where they discuss these politicians.. my friend stop anus licking these politicians they are stealing big time..busy coĺecting bribes.

      2. Why are you defending them bro. Indeed its not good to be an ass licker. Why are the other ministers not mentioned. That one who tried to defend himself attracted motre questions and further scrutiny

  10. For your information bwana Mkaka, Uladi Mussa has been given 6 years and your term is only five years so watch your feet. Uladi also claimed innocence until today

    1. Ofcoz Namiwa is a DPP operative. But the concerns he is raising are genuine. So regardless of who he is let’s focus on the substance of what he is saying. Corruption is still corruption regardless of who is doing it or who the whistleblower is. Let’s get to work ACB.

      1. Has he ( Namiwa) taken time to check with Assets Declaration Office to see what the guy declared when he was appointed Miister. My advice to Namiwa is to do this simple but very important assignment before demanding probes into public officers.

        1. citizen osaiwala paja ACB has stooped so low akugwiritsa ntchito fake news ….only when it is ya ma Cadet..koma nthawi ikwana. zisintha we will will be prosecuting Malawians not a zipani. Time will tell

    1. kodi mmesa kuli access to information masiku ano. Ndizimenezotu. Do his tax returns Justify his $350,000 basi. Malawians anatopa ndikuyendedwa njomba

      1. ndiye nyumba za ma mp anthu samakakhalatu…ngati a mkaka has opted for house allowance? nice precedent. a president asavutike kumanga nyumba MPs will opt to stay in their “clean Houses” and enrich themselves with allowances why not…..allowance syndrome tikufuna kuthetsa mboma ija ….ndizokoma izi.

        1. Thats really strange for a very senior government and party cadre. You need to set standards. He was offered a house by the government. He declined opting to be given 700 000 per month in allowances. Why? For intergrity’s sake he would have rented out his house and stay in the government house to set a good example. Now everyone azikana nyumba ya boma and opt for allowances. I thought the government had abolished house allowances provision. What is so special with this Mkaka?

          1. Its provided for in terms and conditions of service for Ministers and other senior public servants that are entittled to housing provision

          2. So he can reap of the government 700 000 every month when a house was given to him. Who did the evaluation for his house. It might be legal but morally wrong. A CEO of a ruling party reaping off his own government. Shame

    2. Its not about evidence my brother. Life audit is supposed to be done when the red flags have started appearing. Investigations are done to find the evidence so don’t defend the guy so quickly, this Malawi we know how these politicians operate. Remember where there is fire, there is smoke.

      1. The guy was walking in masanza just 6 months ago, lero adzitumbwa kuti chuma wachipeza through court fines? I have always said the rot starts from the head. How do you sanction the arrest of a colleague when your own hands are carrying marks of insincerity? Being a democracy, whereby everyone can be heard, this has to be tackled head-on before more public resources disappear unaccounted. Mkaka shouldn’t wear shoes too big for him coz where he is treading others have treaded there before in the past. One thing these idiots forget is that the money they are stealing is my own and everybody’s hard earned taxes. Mbuzi imeneyi isamatiyese ai.

Comments are closed.