ACB arrest Mondiwa in housing scam crackdown
Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Tuesday said it arrested assistant general manager of Malawi Housing Corporation (MHC) , Floyd Mondiwa , in relation to a multi-million kwacha housing scam which also involves President Bingu wa Mutharika’s brother, Peter.
The arrest of Mondiwa has been confirmed by ACB spokeswoman Egritta Ndala in a statement obtained by Nyasa Times.
“On 24th March, 2011, the Anti-Corruption Bureau received a complaint alleging that Malawi Housing Corporation was selling institutional houses to its staff members and tenants at prices which are far below the houses’ book values,” reads the statement.
“The Anti-Corruption Bureau instituted investigations which established that there was failure to declare interest by the Assistant General Manager (Technical) Mr. Floyd Mondiwa, in the transaction. Mr. Mondiwa’s wife purchased one of the houses,” Ndala added.
ACB spokeswoman explained that after being arrested, Mondiwa was taken to Blantyre Magistrate’s Court where he was granted bail bonded with K40, 000 cash and ordered to surrender travel documents’
“He will be charged with one count of non disclosure of interest by public officers contrary to Section 25 D(1) of the Corrupt Practices Act and one count of misuse of public office contrary to Section 25B (1) of the Corrupt Practices Act,” said ACB spokeswoman.
Mondiwa was also ordered by the court not to interfere with state witnesses and not to leave Lilongwe without the approval of the ACB director as part of his bail conditions.
He has also been given reporting directions to the ACB offices in Lilongwe, Monday, once every fortnight.
Two sureties of K100, 000, not cash, were bonded to his bail.
In relation to the housing scam, ACB last week arrested MHC’s former General Manager Golden Matiya, who faces four counts of corruption.
MHC, a parastatal, lost about K105 million (about $690 789) by selling 22 houses at highly discounted prices that were also said to be less than half the market rates.
Ministers Prof. Peter Mutharika and Mr John Bande, bought public houses at heavily reduced rates including Matiya.
The former Attorney General (now Supreme Court of Appeal judge) Dr. Jane Ansah, also benefitted.
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