MCP official convicted in ‘cashgate’: Malawi third convict in the affair

November 5, 2014 Wanga Gwede- Nyasa Times 61 Comments

Lilongwe Magistrate Court has found Malawi Congress Party (MCP) deputy director of youth Wyson Zinyemba Soko guilty of theft and money laundering for his involvement in the ongoing financial scandal dubbed “Cashgate” that saw millions of dollars looted from the impoverished country’s government.

Soko: Found guilty and convicted of 'cashgate' affair
Soko: Found guilty and convicted of ‘cashgate’ affair

Soko becomes the third person to be convicted in many Cashgate cases currently before the courts.

Earlier this year a secretary in Malawi’s tourism department Teresa Namathanga Senzani was sentenced to three years in jail. And on Tuesday Lilongwe Magistrate Court sentenced Victor Sithole, 28 to nine years imprisonment with hard labour.

He was an accounts assistant in the Malawian government in 2013 when he was found with about $66 000 in cash in American, South African and Malawian currency.

Making a determination on MCP’s Soko, Lilongwe senior resident magistrate Patrick Chirwa said the State had proven beyond reasonable doubt that he  had in his possession K40.9 million ($90 000) knowing the funds were proceeds from crime.

The court heard that Soko was paid K40.9 million through his company Watipaso General Dealers from the Ministry of Tourism vote when the company had no contract with government, as testified by various government officials during trial.

“The accused participated actively in defrauding government,” noted Chirwa.

Chirwa also trashed Soko’s assertions during his testimony that a Godfrey Banda used his company and the money belonged to Banda because he gave “illogical and emotional” answers when cross-examined on the particulars of the Banda.

“I found the statements very strange and entirely unbelievable,” Chirwa said.

The Magistrate said the state had successfully prosecuted the case to prove the guilt of Soko “beyond reasonable doubt.”

“On the offence of money launder, the court finds Wyson Zinyemba Soko guilty as charged and convicts him accordingly,” Chirwa ruled.

Soko’s lawyer Henry Kadzakumanja asked for ample time to prepare mitigation submission before sentencing.

The court adjourned to Friday for mitigation factors.

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61 replies on “MCP official convicted in ‘cashgate’: Malawi third convict in the affair”

  3. MCP you call this a Youth Director – at that age with this character -surely this party will never change.

  4. Soko, kamwangala add business advertising agency (chingoli) anthuwa akudziwapo kanthu mbava zapachibale izi.

  5. WHEN DDP POLITICIAN WILL BE CONVICTED? WHY ONLY THOSE WHO ARE NOT MEMBER OF THE RULING PARTY CONVICTED? CASH GATE STARTED LONG BEFORE PP, IT JUST CONTINUED AND BECAME EXCLARATED DURING PP/BANDA. IT BECAUSE A MAFIA. 92 BILLION IS ALSO CASH GATE. WHER DID BINGU GOT THE MONEY TO HAVE THE MANSIONS AND GRAVE HOUSES AND OTHER HOUSES ABROAD? THE MAN HAD ONE HOUSE IN AREA 47 AND A MINI BUS CALLED BINETH. COME ON MALAWIANS LET FACE REALITY OF THIS STEALING ANSD MAKING THIS NATION POORER AND POORER. THESE PEOPLE ARE EVIL. THEY NEED TO BE STOPPED BY ALL MEANS. THANK DONORS. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH KEEP YOUR MONEY. POOR MALAWIANS DONT BENEFIT ON DONOR MONEY.

  6. So why waste so much time denying wrong doing! I pray the court should not be lenient with this stupid man. He should be punished severely!!!

  11. Nkhope ngati m’bandakucha kapena ngati manyi oponda.
    Senzani zaka zitatu, Sithole tayimusi 3 = zaka 9, Soko tayimusi 3 =27.
    Masamu ake aziyenda choncho.

  16. A Soko wandimvetsa chisoni, munthu wabwino tinkakwera limodzi Trans Zambezi kukagula akatundu ku Jo’burg.

    Munthu wodzichepetsa, and always first to help if a fellow traveller was in any difficulty. I am praying for you.

  17. Where is Kabwila to comment on Solo’s conviction?
    Mesa paja Kabwila said a the culprits should be brought to book, uyutu wanu, muti chani mayi?

  19. Uyu nde membela wa chipani cha Discipline uyu . Ngodya zinayi amwene . Akulolera kukalowa ku ndende koma “Banda” yekha sangamu ulule . Uku nde kuchikonda chipani uku .

  21. AM FURTHER TRYING TO LOOK AT SOKO SENTENCING COME THE JUDGEMENT DAY……WITH ALL THE HIDDEN GRUDGES BETWEEN MCP AND THE RULING DPP…KUTOKOTA MMATOKOTA KONSE KUJA!!!! DEFINATELY APA NDIYE COUGHT BY THE BALLS!!!!!!!!…KUPALA MOTO KUDAMBWE KUJA NDIKUMENEKU!!! KUMATOKOTA MUKUDZIWA KUTI NANU MULI MOTANI MBILI YANU. MUKAMUMVELA CHISONI YEKHAYU WE ARE GOING TO MARCH.ANYAMATA ANYAKULA AMENEWA AKALAKALE AKUNTHENI NDI 15YRS PLS!!!!!!!!

  22. A MCP mumati ndi a Clean onani tsopani mwalowa nawo mu Cashgate zomvetsa chisoni kufuna kulemera ndi ndalama zakuba osati zozigwirira ntchito.

  23. Let me advise all CashGate Crews dont waste time hiring a Lawyer all cashgate cases they is no use of hiring a lawyer then loosing it.Ma Lawyer onse palibe kuwina milandu ya cashgate.

  24. IS MCP A GOVERNMENT IN WAITING OR MBALA IN WAITING!!!!!!!!!????…MULUNGU WA ABBRAHAM,ISAAC AND JACOB TITHANGATILENI KUTIONETSELA MAWANGA ONSE AZITSOGOLELI ATHU KUTI PAZITSANKHO MMTSOGOLO TIDZASANKHE NDI UPANGILI WANU !!!!!

  25. Sikuti shani shani koma ndiye mwati awa msinkhu umeneyu ndi a deputy director of YOUTH? Kodi ku MCPko kulibe achinyamata eti?

  28. The fact of the matter is he is an MCP member and no doubt the cash gate money was in a way used by his presidential candidate in MCP during campaign. MCP yadya nawo za cash gate ndipo isanamenso apa. By the way my humble request, goes to my sister JESE to give her side of the story as well as that of the party of” death and darkness.”

  29. Ndiyesa ambwenumbwenu ndi amene ali muzintchito zabwino ambiri chifukwa chophunzira kwawo.. Inu wanu ndi wu tenant wa fodya ndi tea. Mukati mwaba nde ndikuti mwakhapha nzanu ndi kumubera K20. Awa anabera Boma osati munthu ngati mumene mumapangira inu.

  31. Campaign yopangira cashgate mulungu sanakalola mbava zimenezi muno. Mutchulenitu bandayo ngati sinunabe a MCP.

  32. Ine ndine wa Kongilesi. Ngati mkuluyu adabadi kapena kuthandizira kuba, abwalo lamilandu gwirani naye ntchito! Kongilesi imadana ndi khalidwe lakuba! Umboni ndi ngodya zinayi-kumvera, kusunga mwambo, kukhulupirika komanso umodzi. Ngodya yomwe adaphwanya mkuluyu ndi kukhulupirika! Mulangeni ndithu ameneyu!

  33. Kodi anthu a MCP mumafuna kuzitenga ngati oyera bwa whether he was doing this in her personal capacity ndi Bwana wa MCP basi or Baker Tilly report has a page linking these cashgaters to their political affiliations and the pretending to be holier than though MCP is there.just because people do not talk about the deals za nthawi ya ka mizu you think you can be cheating Malawians that you are not thiefs.mbava zili mbweeeee mu MCP.all the big parties have MBAVA. Musazinamize.munachalira kuti mupasane ma deal m’bomamo mulungu anakutsusanu.Kwao gule.mukagwidwa paja mumanyengezera ndale Iyi ndi Baker Tilly.

  35. Yes go ahead and convict them. No mercy. Women are sleeping on the floor in our hospitals across the country. How many mattresses could have been bought using those moneies evil minded people. Chirwa don’t spare anyone and don’t be intimidated. Punish them. After this earthly punishment hell in heaven is waiting for you until you repent. Make sure that every week you send to jail an individual. We are tired of seeing the scot free men and women. Kumapanganso matama mmalocationmu. Ndikudikila iwe wa pick up ya tinted with you annoying hooting you should go. Get them.

  37. Watsala APM nkhani yamagalimoto aku HTD K6.0 Billion komanso nkhani yanyumba ya Mayor wamzinda wa Lilongwe ku Area 10 K3.0Million, Germany ikudikira imeneyi kuti iyambe kuthandiza kkkkkkkk wa DPP konzeka kuliranso,Osamangoti ine ndizakweza mpira wakumapazi kkk kapena ine ndizatukula ulimi otaya madzi kkkkk koma DPP ili MADZI.OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU Zakoko izo Federal yomweyo kuwawa.

  38. Stop the stupidity. He did not participate in this as an MCP official. When will people stop dragging politics into everything? Can’t you rise above narrow mindedness.

  40. waiting 4 goodal gondwe case subsidy issue.u knw wat once goodal step dwn as minister f finance donors wl cme.dnors r failng to cme coz f hm.

  43. In Magistrate Patrick Chirwa we trust until the last man standing is convicted and arrested! With these developments, I see Our Lordship Patrick Chirwa being elevated to the rank of High court Judge, then SC. Go go go! That’s the way! Don’t spay anyone!

    1. Yes it appears Ku. Tourism ndiye kunaphweka kutulutsa ndalama because the Controlling Officer Senzanu was part of the game. Its sad for a woman who started her civil service career as a mere Assistant Parks and Wildlife officet (TO) to end like this. Were Senzani’s promotions genuine or through bottom power?

  45. Mcp doing what it knows best during 31 years of rule.

    Kodi Ralph alowa liti kundende tikufuna tilowe chokolo mkazi wache abale inu fulumirani chigamulo!!! Mai Kasambara muzilira nupenya ine….kkkkkk!!!

  46. Ngati mukuba muli ku midima nanga mukanalowa boma pa 20may paja mukanatibelatu ndi ma pant omwe mmanyumbamu never say never

  50. Soko cannot reveal who the mysterious “Banda” is even if you were to torture him . Mukufuna agwetse chipani kapena chani?!! Inu simukudabwa kuti every time he was asked to reveal who this “Banda” is, Soko would become very emotional? Campaign inakula ija, achikulire needed as much funds as possible .

  53. Aaaaaaaa! kodi tonse tikukhudzidwa ndimayesa ife tokha a PP tu, palibe wabwino bola inu anzathu a DPP mubisala pang’ono

  55. why is he shielding Banda.Banda is a big fish and he cannot be exposed by Soko rest he perishes.remember he is the deputy director in MCP and ur guess is as good as mine.in this case banda does not exist.

  56. MCP YIMWA MADZI ODZIDZIRA PANO. EEEEEEEH KAYA JESSEI ATI CHANI PAMENEPA? AMENEWA ALOWA BASI, CHIRWA SIOCHEDZA AYI. 12YRS INMATE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! CHAKA CHAKE NDICHINO, ZILIKO !!!!!!!! LUUUULUUUUULUUUUUU.

    KOMA NDALAMAZO AZIBWEZA, OSANGOTI 3YRS, 9YRS, 12YRS, MPINGANJIRA 15YRS. AAAAH! KOTO !!!!!!! INE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!. PITALA MUMUMVA UDYO!!!!!

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