Britain won’t resume Malawi aid: Resolve cashgate from 2005 – House of Lords

October 24, 2014 Thom Chiumia - Nyasa Times 178 Comments

Malawi’s biggest donor, Britain will not be able to resume aid support  until the  government clamped “firmly down on corruption ” and the cashgate scandal which dates back to 2005 is  independently and properly resolved, Department for International Development  (DfID) spokesperson Baroness Northover in the  House of Lords told peers in Westminster on Thursday .

Lord Steel: Malawian people have lived under kleptomaniacs
Lord Steel: Malawian people have lived under kleptomaniacs

Peers debated on what the British government can do to support economic and social development in Malawi, led by former First Minister of Scotland Lord McConnell.

Lord McConnell said Malawi has been a “good friend to the UK and to Scotland especially” ever since the days of Dr David Livingstone and his missions in Africa.

He called on the British government to continue to help Malawians “to help themselves”, in the “same spirit” as Dr Livingstone.

But Lord David Steel told House of Lords that Malawi – the former British colony – has been rocked by the plunder of public resources, known as Capital Hill Cashgate scandal – where about K20 million was looted during Joyce Banda’s rule from 2012 to 2014.

He said over USD500 million was stolen over the eight years of the presidency of the late Bingu wa Mutharika.

Lord Steel said the Malawian people have lived under kleptomaniacs who have made a mockery of democracy.

He told peers that the current President Professor Peter Mutharika has been lavish and took a delegation of 68 people to the United Nations and stayed at posh and expensive Waldorf Astoria Hotel.

Baroness Lindsay Northover said the British government is not planning to reverse its decision to stop all payment of aid to the impoverished southern African nation, made in November 2013, due to fears over corruption.

“The UK is committed to ensuring that every pound of aid money achieves its intended purpose,” she said.

Malawi, the peers were told, must begin to foster a culture of integrity in public life.

Labour Spokesman Lord Collins joined the debate praising DfID impact on the country which he says has led to Malawi’s economy showing “some signs of improvement”.

“This progress has been achieved through DfID focussing on key priorities of alleviating poverty and inequality through education, health and agriculture and with an emphasis on the equal rights of girls and women,” he said.

Baroness Northover pointed out that Britain continues to provide support to Malawi through other channels and is keen to ensure that the poor do not suffer because of aid cut to government account.

It was learnt that the British government is providing GBP61million this year.

UK government, according to Baroness Northover, is committed to supporting Malawi to implement growth, and political and economic reforms.

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178 replies on “Britain won’t resume Malawi aid: Resolve cashgate from 2005 – House of Lords”

  1. 1- BRITS HOLD YOUR AID BUT GIVE US OUR FROZEN MONERY IN YOUR BANKS DEPOSITED BY KAMUZU. THIS MONEY WAS FROM MALAWI CASHGATED BY KAMUZU BANDA AND AM TOLD ITS A LOT OF MONEY THAT WE WILL NEVER ASK FOR ANY AID AGAIN UNTIL THE REAL LORD JESUS CHRIST COMES AGAIN!
    2- TO ALL MALAWIANS, LETS START WORKING HARD, NO COUNTRY IN THE WORLD HAS EVER DEVELOPED BECAUSE OF DONOR AID! ALL MALAWIANS LEAVING IN CITIES START HAVING VEGITABLE GARDENS AT BACK YARDS, IN VILLAGES WITH THE HELP OF ALMIGHTY GOD, LETS WORK HARD IN OUR FIELDS SO THAT EACH AND EVERY ONE SHOULD BE HAVING FOOD. GOVERNMENT PLEASE HELP LOCAL FARMERS AND ESTATES MAKE USE OF LAKES AND RIVERS. CHICKENS , GOATS AND CATTLE SHOULD BE REARED ON A COMMERCIAL VIEWPOINT AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. STOP MAKING MORE CHILDREN. THE POPULATION IS JUST MORE THAN ENOUGH! THOSE WHO ARE RENTING, PLEASE START ANY SORT OF A BUSINESS YOU CAN MANAGE. AS FOR GOVERNMENT PLEASE REDUCE PAYE TAXES SO THAT POOR MALAWIANS SHOULD BE HAVING A BREATHER AND THEY SHOULD BE HELPING THEIR FOXES IN THE VILLAGES. LETS ALL BE LIKE ANTS WORKING HARD AND BY THE END OF 3 TO 5 YEARS AM TELLING YOU! MALAWI WILL NOT BE THE SAME.THOSE BRITS WILL COME BEGGING FOR FOOD AND OTHER RESOURCES, THEY WILL BE COMING TO SWIM IN OUR LAKES AND WE SHOULD BE CHARGING THEM VEAVILLY! GOD HAVE MERCY ON MALAWI! ITS MY PRAYER! AMEN!

  3. mabodza your reasoning is very poor..footballers are not paid by the british government, so if you dont know these things then dont comment.

  7. Koma ziliko wakuba aziwika cabinate ya Bingu muliko? you were acusing JB koma zakubwererani as I have been telling you dzikoli muliva kuwawa we have seen all the names cashgetters funy part of it is almost the half of the current cabinate alimo tuone ngamagidwe nawo apo nje aid simuiona

  8. We dont want britain u can pack & go.we dont rely on ur aid, look u withdrew aid when JB ,we are surviving.we shall seek from the lesser devil china or india

  9. We have lost the help from our good friends – the donors like UK; not because they’re unwilling to help but because we’ve had kleptomaniacs as leaders and the stupid southerners that vote for such leaders. This aid is gone for good, unless Malawians wise up and get rid of DPP and its deadwood. DPP has no capacity to deal with corruption because this party is itself corruption and the mother of cashgate. We have to find ways of getting rid of DPP in Malawi. This party is horribly ill-placed to rule Malawi; it’s bringing too much misery for Malawians.

  10. Could someone please reassure Lord McConnell that Malawians have indeed “helped themselves” (his words) to Malawian and British taxpayers’ money in Cashgate? He must not worry about that!

  11. This is pathetic! After fifty years of ‘independence’ we are still relying on these leeches to call us kleptomaniacs in broad daylight and get away with it. It’s time to start making zero aid budget work, and to reduce donor dependence from 40% to between 5 to 10 %Yes, our country has problems but they are solveable. Don’t make a habot of insulting Malawians just because they are poor, how much white collar corruption is going on in the UK at this very moment? Time to stop relying on these judgemental lords, barons etc and stand on our own feet!

  15. Number 5 why? is your behaviour such eroded? A Malawi democracy sitanthauza kuti tiyiwale mulungu chonde. tiyeni tiyamike ufulu omwe takhala nawo mu zaka zonsezi ndi kumupempha mulungu kuti atichitire chozizwa. God forgive you.

  16. Malawi,Britain Knows you in and out, No independent audit, no good governance, so no aid hahahaha

  17. You stupid moron – you think China is your friend? The only reason African leaders like China is because they don’t ask questions and they can steal as much as they like. What quality product can you name from China? Even the Bingu hotel is starting to fall apart, askthe Peermont hotel group from south Africa

  19. ENROUTING AID DIRECT TO THE LOCALS WOULD SOUND BETTER THAN THE PREVIOUS SYSTEMS WHICH WERE IN PLACE. THROUGH THE NGOs etc RATHER THAN DECIDING TO PULL OUT DfiD TO LONDON, WE ARE POOR PEOPLE THE CONSEQURNCE WONT BE PLEASANT, DEATHS ILLITERANCY AGAIN WILL RESUME CENTRE STAGE.
    YOU ARE OUR MOTHER SINCE. YOU CAN SEE HOW TERRIBLE LOCAL MALAWIAN IS SUFFERING NOW.

  20. Trueth be told. Britain went overboard on its support to Joyce Banda & they have failed to accept her short comings. APM did not assume power through a coup but peoples choices so get over it. Its high time you start looking at people not individual leaders.

    on the issue of Cashgate: Britain please dont come out as if you discovered cashgate. It was God who revealed this to Malawians so that we could see the evil being done by your loved daughter JB & cohorts. Yes you funded the forensic audit but who does not remember your man here being a defactor president & telling us that it is illegal to announce cashgate names as if what they were doing was legal. infact till now we dont have the names from your audit in public & i strongly believe this is from your advice.

    u advised JB to devalue our currency for aid but where is it? That time your excuse was the value of the kwacha & now u want to hide in the name of cashgate? Britain & cohorts r behing the changing of unit of measure for ur own advantage. y should our currency be weaker than yours? what makes u special? isnt that racism? you guys r filthy rich & if u r looking for perfection to assist people then perhaps go to planet mars. You have footballers receiving 213 million kwacha a week(£300,000) which is money hospitals like Balaka, neno, chikwawa, chitipa, ntchisi etc use the entyre year to provide health care & yet u sit happy in parliament denying to help poor souls just bcoz u r looking at perfection? u would rather see ur country teams & companies paying all that money weekly to individuals & u hav no conscious at all to help poor souls. Y cant through your DFID employ ur own accountants &fund all hospitals adequately and manage the finances urself if u cant trust gvt staff for example?

    and then we have some malawians who are clapping hands for u? well this will be a story for another day

    finally arent you ashamed to be called Lord….. Y do u have to use that honourary name in the 1st place qith that heart?

  22. Finally the donors have woken up from their slumber, I was wondering when that would happen. Couldn’t happen at a better time when DPP is in power. I’m loving it. Well done Brits!!!!!

  24. The southerners always give Malawians wrong leaders , because of their population they choose thieving people to lead Malawi , they even challenge that they would choose a thieving president than a president from other Regions ” wakuba yemweyo ” .

    DPP paid MEC heavily in order to rig the elections , our high court judges went away with a lot of money just to favour the rigged elections.

    We were told before the election that donors were not going to support the party and its leader who was to win elections through rigging , it’s good that donors have kept their warning.

    Malawi is not a colony , the Munthalika are not from a loyal family , they don’t even appear anywhere in the book of history of Malawi.
    Don’t give any money until all these presidents from the South pay back the stolen taxpayers money.

    We want federal government in order each region to control it’s own funds. We are tired with these thieves.

  25. u better stay with ur aid.its over 2years now without aid & we are still surviving,try ur aid to the homesexuals…malawi will never bowdown to homesexual.leave africa God will make a way for us.

  26. As The Situation Stands Lets Go For Solutions FIRST because patients in hospital will need drugs,teachers after teaching for for 6 months will need salaries etc.suffering will not wait for aid.thanks

  27. Number 21 what you call politician are not politician but thieves. Is Peter a politician or he become through his brother? The thing is that most politician in Malawi don’t start their political career when they are young and they don’t read political ideology.

  28. I like your comment number 13. As far as I know Astoria as a party of NYC it is a place where rich Spanish live. It is expensive place not cheap place and any hotel there is expensive. What a heal were these people doing there? Where all asked to come there or did they had a mission? My son lives in Astoria and I have been there. there is no place where there is a cheap hotel. I always wonder why African or Malawi leader take so huge number of people when they travel abroad? Rich nations don’t do that. I live in Europe and have seen Obama coming to a nation I live, I have not seen him coming woth huge number of people. Why poor nation like Malawi?

  29. Truth is that Britain itself is in debt of €1.7 Billion. You should have seen how the Prime Minister was stumping during the EU address convention. He is pleading with other heads in the EU to reduce this bill. Ndiye angakatenge kuti zomwaza pa Malawi?

  30. We will do anything possible to create an enabling environment that can lay the future we need for the Malawian economy. I have spoken!

  31. Malawians kuzolowerabacking zolakwika tidzafa osauka yet ur stupid politicians are cash gating our limited resources we are very stupid and illiterate

  32. Kuti zinthu zisinthe kumalawi kuno tiyambe yathu boko haramu. Tiyambe ndi kutibula ma MP akamabwera kumamidzi kuno. Ngakhale am’matawuni omwe. Akamasowa mtendere azichita zofuna anthu.

  33. ABALE, ANTHU AATALI MPHUNOWA ASATITOPETSE. ALIBE KALIKONSE KOTI ANGAMAPELEKE KUMAIKO ENA. NAWONSO NGONGOLE ZILI THOO KU CHINA. NJIRA YAKE NDIYOMWEYO BASI AZINGOTI PANGANI IZI, TIKAPANGA IYAYI PANGANINSO IZO KAYE MPAKA YESU ADZABWERE. TIKAFUFUZA ZA CASHGATE YA 2005 ATIUZA KUTI TIFUFUZENSO ZA BAKILI, KENAKO ZA KAMUZU. KENAKO IYAYI MUMMANGE KAYE KAMUZU CHIFUKWA CHOTI ANATIBERA, KENAKO NONSE MUTHETSE KAYE MABANJA ANU AKUTIONONGERA NDALAMA. KENAKO MUMMANGE KAYE SATANA AMENE AKUPANGITSA KUTI MUZITIBERA…………………………………. TIYENI TILIMBE MTIMA TIPANGE ZATHU BASI, NOTHING ELSE

  35. Britain’s reasons for not wanting to resume aid are very valid. You do not put your hard-earned money into bottomless pockets. It is true that Malawians have long since been led by Klepotomanics – if it means greedy and irresponsible leadership.

    Also true is that no country will achieve genuine and lasting development because of aid. What aid does to the irresponsible and greedy leaders is to arrest their innovative thinking and provide fiscal space for them to steal more.

    This ought to be food-for-thought by today’s leaders – if at all they are serious. For how long are we to depend on aid? 50+ years independent and you still want to depend on others. Is that not disgusting?

    In Africa, Malawi is still among the least developed (8th most poorest to be precise), grouped together with countries that have moved from one war and conflict to another. It is so baffling that election after election, we have never had serious leadership focussed on creating real development. What we always have are people that go into government to capture the state for their own self enrichment. Patronage-based politics among people who in themselves have nothing serious to offer, but to enrich themselves and their cronies, at the expense of the country.

    I wish there will be a time when a country’s development will never be entrusted to politicians. A time when politicians will never be responsible for running state affairs. A time when the State President will be hired and given a performance-contract, by some kind of a state trust – not linked to political parties. Politicians will continue with their parties if they so wish, but they will never be allowed anywhere close to state coffers.

    Otherwise, at this pace, do you ever imagine that we will ever graduate from this nasty group of ‘least developed countries’? may be after we are all gone and forgotten – but not in the forseeable future.

  36. I wish I could also say I withhold my tax, till such a time we deal brutally with these crooks. We tend to forget that the donors contribute 40% and 60% comes from our pockets.

    I feel all these cashgaters should be tried for murder for our brothers and sisters who have died in hospitals for lack of drugs, due to greed of this greedy bunch who deserve no sympathy.

    Capital punishment is justifiable.

  37. Malawians must start investigating Ndata gate, Malawi Housing gate, Kayerekera gate then cash gate.

  38. These donors cant be trusted. Zero aid budget is the only way. Donors just like funding meaningless wars USD billions. What a shame. I would rather remain poor than be a beggar of donors who put their tails within their legs in the name of withholding aid at the slightest tremor in malawi. This poverty will show us things.

  39. We should be blaming ourselves, not UK or donors. We should be blaming our stealing leaders and selfish individuals who very clearly know that the masses of Malawi are very poor and suffering, yet for selfish egos they plunder all the money!!!

    Some of you who are throwing insults to UK are the same people who collude with govt thieves and reAp the benefits. You are the same people who still want corruption and thieving to continue, for that reason you are not happy with the stance UK and donors are taking. You want them to continue throwing their money at you and misuse it? You even talk about turning to the east for help, what good governance can you learn from China or Arabs? It is obvious you want corruption and thieving to continue. Even the Chinese want to do their projects themselves, hands on because they don’t trust us and they are right!! Shame on you.

    What Peter needs to do on the current cashgate is to release the names mentioned in the baker Tilly report, regardless of whether his name is there or not. If his name is there it will be even better because the donors and malawians will commend him for being honest and transparent. After all he is immune to Prosecution for the next five years he is president, so there is nothing to fear for him. Then everyone will know that he is putting the interests of malawians first rather than those of few thieves who have destroyed the welfare of mAlawians.

    What the govt forgets is that donors know the names and are at the moment watching while they know some big names are being protected while small fishes are being harassed and arrested.

    So stop blaming UK or colonialism or donors or western govts, you have been independent for 50 years!!! These countries despite their own problems, still set aside each year a budget to help poor countries.

    The only development you can show the would is corruption and stealing donor money for self enrichment as if you will carry that money to heaven!!! So please stop blaming others but look at yourselves!!

  40. Look at how leaders behave. They refuse to declare their assets, they become filthy rich within a short period of time and build expensive infrastructure like ndata and mausoleums, buy up to 48 trucks at once etc. They give themselves huge loans to pay back a little and all sorts of greedy dealings. The mzungu has been seeing all this.

  41. I have a solution to this impasse. Why cant the British give us the aid and request that they will have their officials on our Treasury to monitor its disbursements and delivery of projects to that last pound/kwacha. Period. Any misuse of funds will be monitored by their own officers who will be able to raise an alarm. How about this?

  42. To name APM as wakuba is character assassination. You could be prosecuted for this. Do not call people names when you have no evidence or just because you are frustrated because your candidate did not make it to the Presidency. Malawian spoke in May and elected APM so do not undermine their integrity and intelligence. After all he is doing his best to deal with issues of cashgate which he was not even part of. As for the UN trip that is a different mater altogether

  43. Ndakwiya kwabasi , ndipo zandi nyasa kwambiri , mukuti House of ndani, zamafano basi .

  44. Britain you can have your money as long as we are breathing not so far from now God will judge, we leave like food chain in this life no rich wothout poor, no boss without workers

  45. achina Mphwiyo, Ralph, JB, ndi ena onse omwe anaba abwenze basi…..Kalanga ine…OMalawi mbava zosaticha nako kuba manyazi

  48. Keep on holding that aid because it only benefited a few individuals. We dont put water in a leaked bucket unless if you are mad and foolish.

  49. Great lords! these pple not only did they pocket our monies,even riging votes on tri-election. they r not pple to trust,they shud knw that GOD z not happy with what they did & r doing!

  50. A malawi nthawi zina timaganiza ngati nkhuku eti?You cant tell Britain How to spend its money,just because Its not a begging nation.Iwowo zikuwapweteka,chifukwa mumapempha chithandizo ngati amphawi,koma mukapasidwa,mumayiwala umphawi wanu ndikumadya mowononga.Nde okupasaniwo Azikusekelerani?Let us learn 2 protect our finances & spend within our limits.

  52. Ma Britiish sakulakwa. Akamapereka ndalama amapereka kwa a malawii osati gogo wanuyo. Tsono ngati mkufuna kuti azikhala moyo wapamwamba kuposa munthu wina aliyense ,zisonkhelanani. Kupusa bwanje palibe chikumukhuza uyu. Ana abale alibe pa Malawi. Akufunapo iye ndikuwononga posachedwa afa mabvuto akubweresawa tizavutike ndife ndi ana athu

  54. Let them go.Akusowa ponamizira, nawo zikuwavuta.ku Tanzania nako achita hold aid ya 500million dollars because of corruption.zikatha zimenezi anamiziranso zina atsamunda amenewa.They are just tired.Tiyeni a Malawi tiphunzire kuzidalira tokha.

    1. Iwe Favour beta galu ndithu. Ngati ukufuna zimene walemba iwe and ndi azaku sokhelanani ndalam muzimupatsa osati ndalama zoti zinthandiza a malawi iye and ma hule akhe azidwa iyi! Kulibwino DFiD and ndi ena a ndikire kaye kuti afe ngati mukulu wache tione zina.

  55. Some stupid comments support stupid president to continue his very stupid behaviour of living above the means while 70% of Malawians live in stinking poverty. You wonder whether these maniacs have hearts & think humanly. Very foolish thinking. DPP ndi Mbava azungu akuziwa. Aren’t you ashamed that the whole British taxpayers money was used by Mbava Bingu & Peter corruptly. Stop your stupid comments or else you are Satanists that DPP is promoting. Black skin black heart, blood & reasoning. Mpake you vote for an old person. Old people only think two things; Food & Death Not future thus Pitala.

    2. Nihoria, i like your coment. Malawi desparately needs more people who can talk like you. I Personally hate the muthalikaz plus unpopular saulosi chilima for betraying innocent Malawians.

  56. Joyce z nt from the north! I fl pple r now concentrating on which tribe z superior! Talk issues and not tribes! May God shd have mercy on u!

  59. Its high time Malawi has been donor dependantant. Donors are tired of us. Its donor fatigue! Lets us concentrate on prudent use of loacally generated resources.Just raise tax on fuel, passport fee, sachets etc. Shift our focus to middle east countries like China, Iran, Russia.

  60. Koma Tumbukas with their sister in-law (joyisi) nsanje mpaka pamenepa? Eeeee mpaka kukanena maboza kwa mzungu…mmmm. I used to think that Malawians are not patriotic to their country. But I was wrong. It is not Malawians but tumbukas and their sister in-law. Mmmm… these people are devils. I now need secession of the north more than ever before.

    1. hahahahahahaha iwe ndi zoba eti, JB is from south????? wats the connection north into this issue, u said u will rule until jesus comes again so sort this out, is it a lie that u looted billions from 2005???? the answer is yes so stop barking here and bring back our billions basi, this issue has nothing to with tumbukas unless u area big idiot!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

    2. You at #6.94 who calls himself Nyasa, how useless and empty head you carry. It’s not Tumbukas nor JB’s fault that the British are withholding their aid, it’s because of you theives who steal their money to build your useless mansions which you may not use in the end. Shame on you!

  62. Chilikunzakooo!!! ichoooo…. pamene PP ikutuluka m m’bwalo Dpp ikonzekele… zikomo Angwazi.

  63. Britain is overstepping their diplomatic lines. To the extent of deigning a leader of a nation that he must not stay in such level of a hotel? No, no. That is too much. I know many of our people share the thinking that the hotel is expensive. But how do a people and Britain expect a leader to go too cheap such that is a laughing stalk. Britain, yes Malawi is poor, but you are overstepping your feet. I dont know whether is still the case in Britain that it is an offence to tell the number of cups of tea taken by the queen. If that is the case why do you find it right to measure what another nation can afford its leader???? I strongly feel, as civilised as you are thought, you are overstepping.

    1. With your thinking ,how can malawi develop? is it britain that is suffering from shortage of medicine? Is it Britain that suffers from hunger? Are we justified to allow our leaders to be reckless with resources and let innocent people suffer? What is wrong with us. If we can not judge ourselves then we have to be judged by others.

    2. Stupid thinking!!! Check your purse before spending, that is what the Bits are telling us. You have no food, no medicine, children learning under trees etc and then you decide to stay and eat in a poshy hotel from the same purse!! Be considerate as a leader and at least have a humane heart!!!!!!

    3. Beggars are not choosers the British give money for overall development for Malawians not lavish spending by a head of state so what they are doing is not going over there diplomatic limits but making sure that the terms and conditions of the aid agreement are adhered to if not close the tap and pull the hose

  64. I love white people…. Calling politicians and lawyers kleptomaniacs. Such a suitable word. Now kwacha is going at its lowest, rate of living becoming unbearable but phwiyo bliwing up 1 million per night on gambling, people stealing billions… kleptomaniacs indeed!!!

  65. We are not an independent nation unless we stop begging from the westerner. Our time is now!!!

    1. Kleptomaniacs are thieves, my friend. Here this word suitably defines our politicians especially these: Mutharika the first, Brown Mpinganjira and Mutharika the second. Jointly those two brothers looted half a billion dollars the first time they ruled malawi.

      APM is back to loot even more: do you remember he said he will win more seats in 2019? Actually he meant he is going to steal everything from money to parliamentary seats by 2019.

  67. We have the BRICKS, they will come in. Thank you Britain for your financial support all these years. We should have been rich by now if your help were channelled in good faith.

  68. I like the way Lord Steel describes Malawian leaders in this story – kleptomaniacs.

    Very true and correct, our leaders are thieves, criminals that are similar to shoplifters. I agree absolutely with Lord Steel, there must be no aid resumption until money that was stollen to be build Ndata is recovered.

  70. Well I said it before that our brothers who r agitating for the republic of the north went to our traditional donors and told them not to resume aid! Our brothers from the north run 99% of the NGOs in Malawi, very shortly our donors will announce that aid will b channeled through the NGOs; and guess what these NGOs employ their own people ndiye anthu a ku mwera, ndi pakati muli mmadzi! Pepani!

    1. mesa u said u can dow thout north????tiyeni nazoni itkuwonelani, the nort human resource is highly interconnected and most of their human resource is not in malawi but in europe they have that capacity to frustrate mutharik govt and i can see that Mutharika is in a deep shit, mwawona tikamanene kuti gvt is run by the north????

  72. Lets comply by releasing the names high office is hiding, if practice transparency we may be considered being accountable and hence aid considered in account number by masters. But by continuing protecting those involved in the malpractice just showing that we are not yet ready for change. better those of you closer to account number you are not feeling the pitch being felt by the ordinary malawian creature down here hence not even seeing a need to be transparent on this stinking issue.

  73. Well done Britain. Olo nditakhala ine sindingampatseso munthu ndalama zoti adyetsere banja lake iye nkumakamwera mowa . Agalu a dpp anaba ndalama nthawi ya mbuyao bingu afinyidwe basi. Mxiii fwetseke

  74. Why attache a million strings to their aid??? akagwere uko. This is our country and our Government. I for one am ready to sink with it or Rise with it from glory to glory.

    After all we didnt invite them.

  75. kuoneka ngati madolo koma nonse muli mbava zenizeni.Tiyeni nayo zero aid budget yanuyo kuti mufika nayo pati. kuba kuli thoo agalu inu

  79. The problem is that the majority of those in power are also involved in this scandal and it will be difficult to get to the bottom of this cashgate. The late President had no mercy plundering the govt purse. The plundered money was inherited and we can see those benefiting from it.
    Joyce Banda had all the chances to put this to a stop but she missed it. She allowed herself to be surrounded by the same crooks and never listened. Now we are back and they are continuing where they left. If ACB loves Malawi and have compassion for the suffering of Malaw, he will not fear or favour anybody. We need this aid and those involved since 2005 should be prosecuted. This is not time for politics games. This needs to be sorted and whatever can be recovered needs to be given back. Enough is enough.

  80. I feel the Malawi Parliament has been negligent in explaining about the looted donor aid money source. Malawians need to understand that the UK aid money comes from British taxpayers as a gift to the people. Therefore, any looting involved, is a direct daytime robbery of British taxpayers donation to the people of Malawi. Under such guise, how can Malawians expect the British public to continue on giving! There should be an open and transparent housekeeping process in the Malawi treasury regarding getting to the bottom of Cashgate including recovery of monies and/or assets bought by the looted donor funds. In the absence of such a clean-up process, all donors should stop giving their people’s hard earn monies to this government.

  81. Azungu atopa nafe awatu. Indeed, it’s time we showed some integrity in public life. We are a nation of Kleptomaniacs indeed. Zamanyazi. I whish this article appeared in the weekend papers so that more ordinary Malawians can read it. May be having it translated into Chichewa would be a good idea too

  82. Mavuto pa Malawi, Leaders priotising to develop their wealth in expense of the poor Malawians. Those are the side effects.

  83. kuli bwino asatipatsedi chithandizo mpaka mbava zonse zitazdziwika.British are wise,they know that the current gonvt is 100% involved.Zitsiru za anthu.mavotzvota awa ndimazivotera mavuto.

  85. keep it up. 2005 to 2012 auditing will take five years. Help also small organization(CBO). It is year money

  86. Fellow Malawians, when are we stopping this habit of depending on these white colonialists? I understand they have their own problems and would like to use Cashgate as a scapegoat. They told us to start dealing with cashgate and we have started. Now they say lets start from 2005. We hear Pricewaterhousecoopers will audit finances during Bingus era. Now who will audit finances during Muluzis era? Then they will start questioning how Kamuzu amassed his wealth and say we are not going to give you money because your Kamuzu abused monies from the Queen. What Nonsense! These white people have to leave now and be erased from our minds. Let us repossess all the land they took from us for their massive Tea Estates just to mention a few and intensify irrigation farming in these areas. We shall soon be major crop exporters to other regions in the world. For how long should we be slaves of their ‘foolish donor jingles’? Enough is enough gentlemen and ladies, these white peoples attitude towards us blacks is now becoming unbearable. The problem with us is that we have the WE CAN’T DO IT ON OUR OWN syndrome. Let’s change our mindset for the time being.

  88. Yes Britain i salute you!!! Hold the aid so that govt shud reveal all names to the tax payers and arrest the culprits. Now i think we shall feel the heat, tiphanadi muno.

  89. It seems these guys knows who the culprits are. There is something fishy here waiting to explode.

  90. We cannot force Britain or any other country to give Malawi aid. If a decision is made not to, let it be. It is their money. Even the other channels they are using I don’t believe everything is 100 percent perfect. With or without aid Malawi will always be there. May be this will teach Malawians to work hard and learn to live within resources available.

  93. So what? To hell with your sheet money. Why are you abusing poor Malawians because of few cashgaters who are under siege now.

  94. Excellent report, Mr Chiumia, clear and accurate!
    Lord Steel lived up to his steely name and reputation while his fellow Scotsman, McConnell, waffled setimentally (and characteristically. I’m afraid) about “traditional UK-Malawi ties” in the 19th century.
    McConnell should be reminded that massive corruption has been taking place in Malawi since he was angling for the job of British High Commissioner there.

    A generation of Malawian and British taxpayers have been robbed by the crooks in the Malawian government, under the watchful eye of the UK’s Department for International Development, and no amount of McConnell sentimentality and soothing words from DFID should disguise that important fact!

  96. I hope that with this message from the UK Govt will now take the 92 Billion fraud seriously. Again spending public funds on people who are not entitled to as was the case with the UN trip should be treated as a crime or indeed another form of cashgate.

  97. Hear! Hear! Hear! In UK money does not grow on trees. This is why every penny should be accounted for. Kleptomaniacs, hear this!

  98. mayo Malawi…foreign currency ndi iyi yayamba kusowa kaleyi in our banks….kwacha is nose diving… munasankha olakwika

  100. Koma mavuto ndiye alipo. Zonsezi chifukwa cha anthu adyera, okuba, ozikonda, a kangandiwamba. Lero ife anthu osauka tikuvutika

  101. The best Malawians could have done was to elect someone whose hands are clean from the plundering of our taxes and this is Dr. Lazarus Chakwera. But Malawians chose plunderers to lead them. Let us now face the music. We decided to vote of “wa kwathu” ku MTL. Tiye nazoni.

      1. Anthu a church ndiye mbava zeni zeni. No accountability. Chakwera ndiye chani? Inu muli busy kunyengana kuswana mbwee kumadalira kuti mzungu akuthandizeni shupiti zanu

  103. The Information Minister has already said it, surrender yourselves, starting with Mukhito and Company!

  104. A Malawi, tiyeni tiyambe kukonda dziko lathu tokha and others will follow.
    Cash gate ikungotionongera mbiri. Anthu ochepa kunzuzitsa millions
    of Malawians, True?? Shame!! God curse them pls!! Akapezeka amenewa asaturuke
    oro pa bail ai. Wa ku Maula basi! Otherwise azagendedwa outside here.

    A Britain sakulakwitsa ai, 100% true. Munthu uzipitiliza kupereka ndalama ku dziko
    loti anthu ochepa azikaseweretsa kumagula ma Hammar amanyado, pomweambiri kumafa ndi njala? Umunthu watithela a Malawi.

    Afufuzedi kuyambira 2005, muona ambiri agwidwanso apa, enatu mitima ikugunda.
    Anadya ndalama zankhani-nkhani but now they want to look innocent.

    Tipitanso ku 0 – Deficit Budget idalephera ija kukabwereka ndalama kumanama eti
    zikuyenda.

  105. Thats the way to go! !! These Mutharikas plundered our country. .They were abroad many years and couldn’t even build a retirement house But due to stupidity of one Muluzi he brought them to power to
    Steal and plunder. ..now these two thieves are back as friends. Mutharika knows he was part of stealing machinery during his brother and as I speak he and his fellow Lomwes own properties stollen from Malawi. Mk92b you just make fun of it? Oh it’s just an audit query really????? And you look at the citizens including the Kapitos Quiet…Why…Why….Why Malawians???? RISE UP!!! RISE UP…RISE UP…

  107. This is good I salute UK for taking a bold decision, to me stealing of public funds and resources did not start two year ago it was started by late kahuna government and then after answering his call of nature it gave birth to the last jb Government which followed the bad example, the last dpp Government bought more than 125 cars for the party, built and and bought land where did they get the money from, they managed to get rid of section 65 by buying many MP to support their pathetic and manuority government by then where did they get the money from. Please we need answers my only worry is the local Malawian who has been given heavy taxes but that is the price you pay for poor choice of leadership in a country. Many thanks to MEC and judges for awarding the leadership to dogs .

  109. Bravo Britain!!! It hurts a lot seeing just a few reaping from what is supposed to be for the poor. In Malawi today, the masses have been made to believe that corruption and its subsequent poverty are the way of life and normal. Without external help to fight this, the poor masses themselves cannot fight. Their minds have been crippled that they even bow their heads to those they openly see plundering resources in broad daylight. Politicians, lawyers – those who are supposed to uphold the laws of the country and protect the poor and help the country move out of poverty are the worst immoral. The country is lucky that, though morally rotten, it is peaceful and no one ever thinks of taking arms to fight but there are more than a million reasons of doing so to get rid of those stealing from the poor would be justifiable because it seems the ballot box has failed due to ignorance that s dominant amongst the masses who are always fooled to vote for thieves.

  113. azungu ndinu obalalisa bwanji you keep on adding salt to our wounds?God is watching you with kin interest, you have alot of money and you forget that the money was long time ago ours, you took everyworth that we had and today you keep on imposing tough laws ok, tizionana

  114. This is a blessing in disguise. Although this may hit us hard now but in the long run it will make us stronger and prouder of ourselves as Malawi nation. We will be prouder than ever before knowing that we can do it without aid. Just wait and see. Very soon we shall be economically independent. Ndalama zanuzo mpaseni abiti mtila joyisi.

  117. Britain won’t resume Malawi aid: Resolve Cashgate from 2005, I salute u Donors and u know how to punish thieves, Don’t trust DPP Government they are all thieves and the bucket is still leaking.

  122. Ine ndikugwilizana nawo azunguwa 1000%, this is what we call leadership. Cashgate sinayambe nthawi ya Joyce Banda. Tikulamulidwa ndi ma clowns making mockery of democracy by taking advantage of high illiteracy levels and anthu osaona mmaiko ena. Where in the world do leaders take credit when they construct a road using donor or tax payers money? We have someone now already praising himself to be doing a good job after only 5 months in office with nothing to show for. Kwacha ikugwa but noone cares and is visionles apart from assuring us to brace for tough times ahead. The cashgate scandal investigations only target those seen to be part of the former ruling PP or its sympathisers. I am totaly ashamed to be a Malawian, a land of Zombies that will stay in the stone ages forever!

  125. That is very good news as donors listen to the voice of reason. Don’t give Peter money because as everybody knows Bingu & Peter were busy sharing government money using Mwanamveka. Lets clear all the mess that DPP made first since it was Mbava Bingu may his soul be tormented forever, introduced electronic money transfer & payment with the chief aim of stealing money & indeed constructed himself an expensive grave & house. Presidents & donors that came attend the funeral wondered how a poor country can afford a grave with very expensive gemstones. Malawians must know that Peter knew & participated in the fraud since he was a minister & a blood brother to thief Bingu. All donors must not give him money unless they are naive.

  126. The British can go to hell with their money. China is Malawi’s real friend – a friend of all seasons, come rain or sunshine. This propaganda about British aid to Malawi must stop. Half of the publicised British aid to Malawi has been and continues to go back to Britain through dubious consultancy assignments awarded to under-qualified Britons. Imagine, DFID is reporting that it has spent 75 million pounds to Malawi in the past year. Yet, 40 million pounds of this was money payable to Baker Tilly for the cashgate audit. Do you really think the work done by Baker Tilly is worth 40 million pounds? Britain, stop that cheap propaganda.

    1. Chinese are also crooks, they have exported natural resources Thieves and Poachers to this country and are busy draining our natural resources WAKE UP MALAWIANS!!!!

  127. Let them keep their money. We will survive. We know they are angry that their puppet woman lost elections and they are just trying to punish the voters.

  128. Chuma chopatsidwa ndi chovuta tiyeni tipange Budget yathu ndi ndalama zathu za ku Malawi ndiye palibe amene adzatilalatore tikhoza kukwanitsa kiki!

  129. so my late president bingu was bad, jb cashgate; peter is lavish so who will rule according to your wish the britons??

  132. Why then did Peter deny over expenditure during the UN conference? If Britain is aware that he travelled with an over the moon entourage why did he lie to Malawians that he travelled with the smallest group of people that including some villagers from Goliati. If Britain regards the missing of 92 billion kwacha from the Government coffers during the rein of his brother , the big kahuna Webster ‘John Phiri’ Thom Bingu wa Muthalika as another cash gate saga why should he treat that as just an audit query? He wants to appear to be wiser when in actual fact he always portrays that he is some big buffoon who does not know what he talks about.

  133. ” took a delegation of 68 people and stayed at the expensive and posh Waldof Astoria hotel”!
    Now this is not coming from a tumbuka or member of opposition, the usual suspects once anyone criticizes DPP government! This one comes from the donors themselves who are surprised how a begging country like ours can afford such luxuries! Our politics, politicians and democracy stinks! Our leaders have no accountability at all! But once aid is frozen, it is Phiri , Moya and Nyirenda who are going to suffer not them who are milking our economy!

  134. To make things worse sir, our president refuted that Waldorf Astoria Hotel is expensive and that he took 68 useless people with him.

    He seems not to repent or ready to change.
    This govt is even hiding names of cashgate suspects.

    I am in support of your stand. These people are not serious to run the govt.

  135. Lord Steel has said that the Current President professor Peter Muthalika, Has been lavish and took delegation of 68 People to United Nations and stayed at posh and expensive Waldorf Astoria hotel, But last time Muthalika” he told Malawians that Waldorf Astoria is a cheapest Hotel in New york, as I already say that this APM is a Big joke, DPP, UDF and PP are thieves.

  136. Chi Mathanyula nanga umakana chani, galu iwe? Thats why ulibe mano mkamwa ukamalankula it is as if wasunga chimbatata chotentha mkamwa. Galu ameneyu amandinyansa bwanji!!!!!!

      1. Why should one waste his/her time to respect a senseless and stupid leader? Somebody who has is not even ashamed to lie to his nation that Waldorf Astoria hotel is a cheap hotel, when he knew that the hotel is posh and expensive!! Pano bwabji tamutsutsenitu Steel? Zautsiru zanuzo, ziremekezanani, sinanga mumadya limodzi!! Fosteki!!

  137. Fuck off azungu, when you say our president has bn lavish what exactly do you mean? You counted the number of delegation? You don’t like our Prof, but God will ci us throu, you r not our God!!

  138. Britain, your £1 is trading over Mk710 per pound. However, your decision is justified in the sense that how can one pour money into a broken sack? I like your approach that the poor Malawians will not suffer and you will channel your money through other means. That is commendable. There are many NGOs that are doing good work.

  139. In other words the House of Lords is asking the DFID to wind up their operations in Malawi and go back to London.It seems they will have nothing to do in Malawi.

  141. This is good news. Most of the AID is used up by the politicians who misuse it. The poor hardly benefit from AID thus the suspension of AID does not make a difference in their lives.

  143. Nkhuyu zodya akulu zipota ana: the evil that men do live with them; continuation of the same evil brings curses to the generation, Malawi is a cursed nation becoz of evil, corrupt leaders who ruled frm the democracy error. Heal our land oh Lord

  144. Britain mwachita bwino, tikufuna 92 billion kwacha yomwe inabedwa munthawi ya bingu yipezeke ndipo tiwone anthu omwe anaba ndalama zimenezi 92 billion ayimbidwe mulandu ngati m’mene kuyimbidwa milandu anthu omwe anaba ndalama zokwana 13 billion munthawi ya joice banda, tikufuna chilungamo pankhani ya 92 billion kwacha, britain chonde musathandize amalawiwo.

  146. Open letter to you Lord steel,it is sad that you know how poor Malawi is and you keep on imposing so many things us.it is not the people in authority that feel the pain,but we the locals.you can imagine the courts in the 20billion cashgate want finish their cases over night.if someone will come to you and say am victim of political abuse,you the same people will point fingers at the current government.Malawi is to poor to wait for all these investigation.we need aid now while the courts are moving forward with their cashgate cases.you are being biased on your judgment on Peter spending.where did you get this information? Stop being used by people who have bad blood with this administration.we choose multiparty kind of government with on head of state affairs.and the rule is up to the next general election this is our government.if you want to work with the voted out government,then you are fueling bad politics in this poor country.if you have solution to Malawi please you are welcome to investigate any information you so wish with the help of this government.being a brother to the late Bingu does not mean Peters politics are the same.
    you have tortured us enough with your aid issue.dont treat us badly just because you are rich and powerful.help us to be self industrious so that one day we can be like you.all this is happening cause of poor wages and the rising cost of our living standards.1964 the population was 3,4million and today 15,16 millions,what do you expect.and now we have allowed people of different cultures in our society’s like,Burundi,Nigerians,somarians,zimbabwes,etc,Malawians are not the same trusted people.yeah even though technology is changing same living standards are changing too.
    if you will not give the current government chances to be heard on the state affairs,am sorry Malawian’s will perish to death.you come and see for yourself.we are suffering here where by people can not afford a living from there wages.we need your aid sir.
    I am writing not as apolitical figure,but a citizen of good will for better Malawi.

    1. Excuse me Britain doesn’t only want to investigate the 20billion but want to know from 2005 till date. I say lets go back to the Beigining of the Independent state of Malawi from 1964 till date from our first head of state. I always have admired kamuzu not coz of his face on our green buck but been told since around 600 A.D that when people would be asked “is your leader better today then the previous one” ,the people will say ” no the previous leader was better” and when asked again and the leader before him he shall say the leader before him was better.

      We are in dark days accept the fact the sun is beaming down hard it’s a bright day but just in the darker days.

      All our leaders were corrupt but some did it secretly some did it some people over did it some people burnt it and our current one will destroy it not by abolishing corruption but by taking it to the ls ever level possible. The world economy is on a knife edge.

      Every man women and child wether it be a Jew, Christian or Muslim like me is waiting for him the Jews call him Jesus of Nazareth the messiah who will be their prophet to bring peace and understanding to this world , to the Christians he will also bring peace and justice and for us Muslims a prophet aswell who will bring all the above mentioned.

      But please my fellow human beings beware of the liar the deceiver the one who will bring confusion and not peace.

      For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.

      1 Corinthians 14:33King James Version (KJV)

      Mark 13:22 – For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if [it were] possible, even the elect.

      ark 13:6 – For many shall come in my name, saying, I am [Christ]; and shall deceive many.

      Matthew 24:5 – For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.

      Matthew 24:23 – Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here [is] Christ, or there; believe [it] not.

      Please be warned though the anti is close to being here and he will claim to be Jesus or eisa known in Islam.

  147. It is true that our democracy has trailed our development. We thought it is the way democracy behaves not knowing that some thugs are behind this. Now I support the British government for that idea until we see that the aid has a direct impact on Malawi.

  148. The truth is the British themselves are in financial problems,Cashgate aside,they would try and find any reason possible to justify their position to cut aid.
    The way I see it,they should keep their aid and never ever resume it again.If as much as 30 – 40% of the budget was ending up in Mphwiyo,Kashmbara,Lootepo and Friend’s pockets over the last few years( which is the approximately the equivalent of the budgetary support that we have been receiving) and yet we survived,I do not not see the problem because it would indicate that the Malawi government has been funding its budget with its own resources for sometime already.Thebudgetary aid was being used to build mansions and support lavish lifestyle for the elite including Muluzi,Bingu,and “we know who”..
    To cut it short,to the British,yes we agree,keep your aid forever and use it to solve your own problems,leave us to perish or triumph!!! we would welcome FDI if you still have invest in africa,I hear the chinese are pissing in your face!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    1. If the aid was ending in people’s pockets since 1994 and we were able to survive,it means we can still make it.Malawians let’s work hard dziko litukuka ili tisamangodalira azungu oti kuti atipatse thandizo ndiye kuti tivomereze homosexuality.Angochita mwayi ndi za cashgate awa, bwezi pano ya homosexuality ili mkamwamkamwa.No need kukonza m’mbuyo m’malo moti tikonze tsogolo.

    2. The question is how to make sure that the remaining 60% will not be stolen and leave us with only 20%. We need to sort out this issue not only for aid but national security. Already people are talking about federation. Next people will talk of injustices. One day the Judge will send your relation to jail 5 years for stealing 2000MK from an Indian and you will compare that with 3 years trezza has pulled for stealing 65 metre. You will be bitter. And judges will no longer be safe.village courts will close as unemployed gangsters take revenge on the judges for sending their member to jail. As a nation we need to be very careful about this issue. You win today but to morrow is a mystery.

  150. Ki ki these Britons seems very serious BUT they are broke themselves !

    They want the President to sleep in streets !!

    These they seem not to like the Munthalika !

    We will suffer but we will make it we need you but u are too slippery!

  151. I take Britain as big brother of Malawi, bt now I feel as the big brother is playing games if it comes to funding Malawi in Development. Yes I understand the problems of youth unemployment in Britain so is in Malawi and else where in the world today. If Britain was brave enough on Malawi, conditions on funding suppose not to be an issue, if we are to go back in history and see the benefits of Britain made through and Kamuzu Banda cash which if we are to claim it, will be enough to take Malawi higher in development. Since the death Of Kamuzu, with all our leaders of the so called Democrats never had a day to revisit the frozen cash of Kamuzu Banda in Britain and which it was also a cashgate – beneficiaries being the British Government. Am happy that even if they want resume aid in budget but we are going to get development aid, which to me means the same, development aid can also to turned into; developmentgate.

  152. Job well done British Government otherwise we could not learn any lesson and would only tout loudest cashgate from JB`s tenure and well burry under the bridge the bigger cashgate between 2005 and 2012. In fact cashgate started in Bakili Muluzi`s time. When the Danish Ambassador was unceremoniously chased away, corruption was at its best. though at smaller scale. Computer hard disks were being removed from IFMIS computers and then resold to the government through government corrupt IT staff, printer & photocopy paper rims were being given to “sellers” only to be resold to government. Simple IT problems were being charged exorbitantly and the loots shared. The police were exchanging tires for Land Rovers with “dealers”. Shady construction “deals” were order of the day with various contracts given to briefcase companies and Government monies exchanged hands before even the foundations were laid out! This cashgate thing needs to start from Bakili Muluzi time and the same politicians have been recycled through Bingu Wa Mutharika, Joyce Banda and now Arthur Peter Mutharika. If truth be told the only corruption free time was during Dr. Hastings Kamuzu Banda`s time because only him was a no nonsense leader. But after him we have seen more of those who speak one thing and do another. Poor Malawi!!!

  153. It’s worth noting that they are still assisting but then directly to projects and not to the national budget. Sign of relief.

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