ACB arrest Odillo, Kafuwa: Malawi army cashgate

May 11, 2015 Chancy Namadzunda – Nyasa Times 140 Comments

The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Monday arrested former Malawi Defence Force (MDF) General Henry Odillo and Lieutenant General Clement T. Kafuwa over suspected fraudulent payments suspected to be part of Capital Hill Cashgate.

Former MDF Commander General Odillo: Arrested
Former MDF Commander General Odillo: Arrested

The two were arrested in relation to payments that were made to Thuso investments without supplying services to the Malawi Army.

According to a statement by ACB, this follows an establishment that Malawi Army paid K1, 921,028,000.00 to Thuso Investments for the supply of blank ammunition which was never delivered.

ACB deputy director general Reyneck Matemba said Thuso had valid contracts with MDF prior to 2013, but the graft-busting agency found that there was no evidence of a K900 million contract to supply blank bullets.

In  a statement made available to Nyasa Times, ACB senior public relations officer Egrita Ndala,  said the two will face three charges including  of abuse of public office contrary to Section 25B(1) of the Corrupt Practices Act,.

Other charges will be of negligence by public officer in preserving money or any other  property contrary to Section 284(1) of the Penal Code and Money Laundering contrary to Section 35(1) (d) of the Money Laundering, Proceeds of Serious Crimes and Terrorist Financing Act.

They will be taken to Court after the Bureau has recorded statements from them.

Odillo and Kafuwa were apparently signatories of several cheques, including K3 billion to International Procurement Services (IPS) owned by businessperson Osward Lutepo—who is also answering money laundering charges—and K1.5 billion to Thuso co-owned by Kauwa and Alexander Banda, according to information sourced from ACB.

Former MDF lieutenant colonel Nelson Kauwa whose company, Thuso Investments Group, was linked to alleged dubious contracts at MDF was arrested in January.

The September 2014 forensic audit report by British firm Baker Tilly found that close to K18 billion of the K24 billion plundered between April and September 2013 was channelled through MDF.

The “cashgate” issue came to light in September 2013 after the attempted assassination of the finance ministry’s budget director Paul Mphwiyo.

Just days before, a junior civil servant was allegedly found with more than $300,000 in cash in the boot of his car.

More cash was confiscated from some civil servants’ homes and car boots.

Malawi’s donors then withheld $150m pending further investigation into the scandal.

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140 replies on “ACB arrest Odillo, Kafuwa: Malawi army cashgate”

  1. Zonsenzo ndi Zibwenzi za JB.nanga kuba amatero abale.amayetsa kuti poti ndi akulu sadzawapeza.zonse zidzaululika tsiku likadzakwana baibulo limatelo.nde abalewo nthawi ija yakwana.JB nthawi yake yayandikira.Tiyamba ndi timatsamba kuti udule mtengo waukulu.Muwulula ma men.

  4. I pray for the Henry and his young family.I interacted with him closely when he was in kenya attending a course wt the national defence college.

  5. Every Malawian knows what the real issue behind Odillos arrest is all about! Odillo is paying for what he did in the past!!! “Read between lines!” Lake lakwana nawonso lidzakwana!!!

  9. Ife kumalephera kulembedwa ntchito agaluwa atatsamira ndalama, alangidwe basi

  10. Iwe simulemba ndiiwe opusa khani iliapayi ikikhuzana bwanji ndi Feston Kaupa uzafa imfa yowawa

  15. A fake state full of thieves.Justice is done only to poor people who steal goats and chickens.You will see all these people on bail and that will be end.Pitala is also a big thief together with his Dpp bootlickers.Alot will be exposed in 2019 when he gets out power and when the man of God rescues this country from these vultures.

  16. ACB indeed be serious with these issues because some people they doing this deliberately not because of poverty because they are people out there who suffers alot, but these people they are abit fine interms of financial status. deal with them accordingly no matter is the president, army commander, cleaner or any sort of proffessional someone is holding dont look at this but always stand for the truth so that some they should take an example

    ACB HOYEE

  18. Why call it a witch hunt when a thief has been arrested? Kodi when they arrest JB for cashgate muzati political move and yet azibale anu akamasowa panadolo mukukuwa forgeting the money was plundered by these thieves. I say well done. keep collecting them one by one mpaka manthu wawoyo azalowa yekha kumaula

  20. They must be greedy these burst men in uniform teach them alesson, ACB go ahead punish them these burst hav got huge properties as if they are not Malawians

  21. They must be greedy these burst men in uniform teach them alesson, ACB go ahead punish them these burst hav got properties as they are not Malawians

  23. ACB be serious. Why not investigate Festo Kaupa at CMST? Just find out how much Kaupa is stealing through Gani of Victoria Pharmacy? As long as ACB is used for political mileage corruption shall never be eliminated.

  24. kkkkkk!!!!! Amayi Otakata anaionera game patali….ali Malawi wavuta tithawe dzikoli…..JB is next

  25. A kulu akulu nkhani ili yapa sa kuba ndalama ayi koma kuti A Odilo a nawachitsa manyazi a DPP (a Pitala) pa kuwa kanila kuti iwo alamulire bingu atamwalira. Ndiye mukaonetsetsa mangawa ameja zipatso zake ndi zimezi. Uku ndikuyamba chabe apita ambiri ndi pitala UYU.

  26. mk92 billion ndi audit query. Munthu mwamupatsa allowance kuti apite ku field kenako kumamufutsa receipt atagula chipisi pa chiwaya? Hahahaha

  28. JB was asked to audit the plunder that was meant while she was in Government, they were cost complications and the donors could only afford to pay for the recent audit of her PPs cash gate in order to ascertain the damages and put back the controls to stop further plunder that was the priority then.
    Now the Germany Government is ready to finance the 92billion plunder but the DPP Govt is not committing. For those of you who are suggesting that JB already discovered that there was no K92billion kwacha plunder, keep on dreaming it was the issue do with financing but the K92b audit will take place in one way or another.

    Do you really think that the donor impasse now is because of the PP cashgate? Not at all donors already dealt with that, they audited the Government books themselves and they know what transpired and correction has been made but the issues of concern now is the k92b as long as your Govt continue shielding K92billion and creating K6billion mulli-gates just brace yourselves for more hard times to come. No matter how many people are arrested in the PP cashgate it will not change the position of the donor to restart the Malawi support so yes we applaud the ABC for bringing culprits to justice but what we are saying is that that should be done for in the interest of Malawi and to achieve that ACB need not to be selective so that at the end of the day the arrest should make a difference to Malawi not use arrest for scoring past grudges

  31. Kodi nanga uyu mumati Nelson Kauwa yemwe amanyada ndi galimoto ya Thuso group yu mukumusiyiranji? Ndi mayesa anamanga nyumba ku area 49 mwezi umodzi ndi ndalama zakuba zomwezi? ACB Tamuunikani Nelson Kauwa wa Thuso groupyu!

  33. I agree with you comment 91 ZZ Junior. If there was 92billion cashgate, amayi sanathane nayo bwanji during her reign? Why did she audit her tenures only and not the previous one? PP govt!!!! take care.

  34. Ma bwana amenewo. Kafuwa ndi dhilu amacita holiday Ku USA ndi family take yose koma magalimoto kugula ngati mcere ma truck Ku UK kugula cash and duty free life anyamata Ku MRA kuvutika eti ndi za bwana tikhale Crete. Timangyangana zikucitika kuopa kufinyifwa tikaulula mabanja at hu angavutike main a akanatha kukatipereka Ku n’gona.
    Anti wankulu salakwa maphuzitso oipa.
    Kuli that whore akodzebwa azibwerako Ku US angonamizila timaploglamuta zii kuti life tiziopa kuti pot I ndi US. Za zii tazibale take tikumunamiza Ku Us ko tikupweteketsa mmalo mongobwera kudzanena zoo a zako. Kamwazi acitika

  35. Waona tintin bwana Odillo. Ngati anaba zake izo koma ngati sanabe zakezo izo koma ndikuona ngati anaba nanga manyumba two keu 43 okhala ndi matiles paja pa mpanda anazitenga kuti ndalama

  38. so u think bcoz they are armed forces they shud be allowed to steal public funds just like that,thats poor reasoning indeed…please investigate heavily, its not only Thuso other companies,Hotels are involved…big up ACB.ARMED ROBERS not ARMED FORCES.

  40. Wakuba alive mawanga in . whether odilo served the country for decades koma ngati amaseva dziko mask Ali n’ganin’gani basitu ngwindi. Honesty inavutapo APA. Hehehede NDE uku timati kufwalidwa. Anyimbo amati pali be cisisi amao cidzaonekera. Amuna odilo ma dhilo akuyalutsanitu. Nyumba yomanga in 2wks pa kasungu kkkkkkkk kusolola pa town kkkkk Malawi iyo. ACB zisathere panjilatu NDE mukunya

  41. Fair is Fool,fool is fair that’s Malawian people.If he will be arrested after 4 days he will be bailled out.That is why Malawi is a very small country but is poor because of educated ignorance people.Please this coming election vote for me so that I will end up corruption and I will re~new malawi

  42. If former Presidents are arrested, who is a former Army general (81). We have our Chief army commander and we have the Army general of today will deal with that! Anthu awo akuti. Odillu ali ndi anthu?

  44. It’s so funny how people are bringing in the alleged K92b cashgate here. Seriously do you really believe Amai would audit her cashgate and let the K92b lie if at all it was there in the first place? If it was, then blame it on the PP government they should have first started with the K92b before washing their own dirty linen in public.

    1. You won’t think it’s so funny when the law finally catches up with your DPP leaders. PP was in power for a brief 2 years. Do you really think they perfected the art of stealing public funds in that brief period, or rather they used the ‘tricks’ perfected by DPP over a long period? The Mutharika brothers came back to Malawi with nothing, how come they are now the richest family in Malawi?

      The cashgate report is quite detailed, but why is it that cases are moving at a snail’s pace? Why are so many people mentioned in the report not yet on trial? There was talk of creating special cashgate courts – why hasn’t this happened?

      You know the thing that is really funny is this notion that PP and UDF are corrupt but DPP is somehow clean…

  45. I am waiting for the day when Mulli and Mutharika will face the same law. Stupid Achimwenezi.

  47. Vuto la A Malawi with foolish minds akandimanga ine ndikaba nkhuku kundifinya kwakeko koma lero ndi Odillo anaba ma Billion mukufuna asayimbidwe mlandu koma mukufuna Malawi atukukuke .Foolish malawians you will never become rich.Akuyetsa kuthetsa ziphuphu mukudana naye nde mukufuna andimange ine ndinaba nawo.

  50. Hope these arrests are not connected to the resistance that General Odillo gave to Peter Muthalika when he wanted to take over Government when late Bingu died.Otherwise these arrests will somehow soon haunt Peter in a big way,afterall Peter’s hands are not clean,his late brother Bingu accumulated unexpelained wealth to the tune of MK61 billion from a mere MK150 million including unproductive estate in just 8 years while in Government?????? Nanga mlandu wa a Tcheya Bakili Muluzi wa MK1.7 billion wulipati???????

  51. A job well-done ACB. Now Odillo spill the beans, by virtue of being former Army commander you must be keeping a lot of information.You were appointed by Bingu, now Where did Bingu obtain the MK62 Billion??? What do you know about MK92 Bilion DPP loot??? EXpose all looters for Malawians to know and then prosecute them some of whom are Cabinet ministers!!!!!!!!! This is godly action!!!

  52. My question is : nanga a ku accounts ku MDF ko bwanji sanatengedwe? Analemba bwanji ma cheque opanda ma supporting documents kuti katundu sanalandilidwe?

  53. NO 81 that’s not correct. Nobody is above the law. If indeed he is guilty, let him face the music like any other Malawian.

    Having said that what about the Vice President of this country – he has also issues with ACB – or is he enjoying immunity due to his position.

  54. Let me warn the Govt, arresting generals like this, it brings chaos in the country. These people may have their followers and fighting may also start. Take example of other countries. This issue, the Govt should not take it as simple as eating fruits.

    1. So you are saying military officers should be condoned in their involvement in corrupt malpractices? Just because they are in the armed forces? That’s very poor reasoning

  56. Kafuwa mdala ameneyu waba kwambiri amayeneradi kumangidwa! Wagula manyumba munamiwawa, nyambadwe, kanjedza, Chigumula, 43, 12, 10!!! Ihhh paliponse!

    Alowe basi!

  57. sakhwi odilo nd mzakeyu ife sskali kumasowa ma ammunition iye akuwadya nd akaz kunjako? eandtenga ntma

  61. Kafuwa ndi mbava yotheratu. Ana ake amayendera magalimoto odula nkumapita nawo ku school zodula ife kudabwa kuti civil servant akulandila zingati zoti ana nkukhala ndi galimoto yakeyake. Analemba ntchito ana abale ake, zibale zokokela a Chilonda ku army mpakana kumamukweza alibe school yotentha.

    Odillo nde iiii ndi amodzi, ndalama za malawi govt kumangogawana basi eni akefe tikuvutika. Bravo ACB

  62. Thawi zonse boma limalamulidwa ndi mbava, don’t be hiden you too your are theif. cashgate sinaya ndi DPP am not a politian nde mundimanga chifukwa ndakuululani?

  63. Za zii a ACB, THERES NOTHING U R DOING. U R JUST CAUSING NOISE. WHY NOT ACT ON MALAWI SAVINGS BANK BEFORE THE LOANS ARE CLEARED BY GOVERNMENT. WHY NOT PROTECT GOVT RESOURCES. U R WAITING FOR 2O19?

  64. This is the message ,Malawi will be mourning a top government official very soon.it could be the head or the tail but there will be an assassination in Malawi before the end of this year.mark my words.these peple are playing with fire.
    Everybody knows peter muthalika is a thief and he has stollen a lot and he is still stealing and yet people are just watching.wait and see.

  66. Odillo mbava yakutha ntchito pamodzi ndi Alex Banda. Odillo anagula nyumba zingapo ku South Africa ndi ma proceeds a corruption amenewa. Alowe basi.

  67. ABC SOUGHT PERMISSION FROM THE STATE PRESIDENT TO ARREST ODDILO AND THE PRESIDENT GAVE THEM A GO AHEAD. SO HOW INDEPENDENT IS ACB????

  68. Apa palibe ndale. Kodi munthu akalakwa asamazengedwe mlandu poti adachita zazikulu m’dziko muno? Chilungamo chiyende basi.

  69. Senior army officers do not get directly involved in these kinds of affairs. They issue instructions to lower ranking officers. Odillo is not paying for plunder of public resources; which seems to have been a free for all from 2009 to early 2013.

    Odillo is rather paying for not heeding APM’s call to usurp power during Easter 2012. Ever since he assumed power last year APM has made no secret that he wants to deal with all those people who stood in his way in 2012. Cashgate is simply a convenient means of achieving his objectives. If he was sincere about tackling the plunder of public funds he would not allow his officers to be saying that the audit of the MWK92bn will take a whopping 2 years? How come? JB audited her own cashgate within a few months…

    APM thinks nothing of discontinuing corruption cases involving his cronies; and will issue government promissory notes to clear his friends’ toxic assets. He has no concern whatsoever regarding the theft of public assets (after all he himself ‘buys’ government houses as if he is buying a secondhand toyota corolla!). His main concern is to settle personal scores – real or perceived.

    1. He was a controlling officer, he bore full responsibility for what went on under him. Lets not make excuses for him now

  70. Most of the people who are against Odillo’s arrest are the same ones who were ululating when the head of ACB was recently appointed. People were writing all over the place siwamasewela (watch out! He is a man of integrity). What’s up now? And the positive views changed so soon?
    It should be pointed out getting arrested, even in Malawi, is not a sign of guilt in law. Army general or not, every body is governed by the same laws. One difference may be the capability of the defense lawyers involved. But meanwhile, let the law take its course.
    Why are some people defending Odiillo like they were beneficiaries to the stolen money? If so, they must be afraid of the long arm of the law, already. And rightly so; as the modern ACB is not wasting time and resources.

  71. Paja Odillo ndi Nyasatimes Man of the year kikikiki Thieving incompitent Bastard.
    Pa nyasalande pachuluka ma bulutu, uneducated bastards, who like to comment on internet forums.
    Do you even know what witchhurting is?
    Musova anyapapi inu…
    Baker tilly report on cashgate clearly mentions odillo as one of the cashgate looters…
    Ma bootlickers a PP ndi Malawi crocodile party akuti this is political persecution …what the f..k
    In saying so that means Odillo is a politician right? Or is he a military man? Because he cant be both…

  72. Zdiko lili mkamwa mwa BWAMPINI Bakili kudya tax payers money ACB kuzamukhulukila ngongole ya K1.7B DDP kuzadya K92B ABC kulephela kuwamanga ndiye poti Udilo ndi wa PP unyoro ugwire ntchito anthu kumafa ndinya ena kusowa pokha koma Boma la mathanyula Kubwezela mulli Bro tax payers money K6B ACB ikuyangana osachitapo kanthu , DDP muyiva kuwawa 4yrs is still 2far cry ur beloved country zdiko lili mumanya mwa nyaphapi.

    1. Kkkkkkkkkkkk mpaka 1yrs? I know its just an error ya mmutu mwadzaza mamina. This is how Malawi politics is conducted bro, nawonso tidikire chipani china chidzawa chite tintin basi.

  76. Munditchulileko munthu wolemela amene ali ku prison Ku Malawi kuno. Wolemera sakhala ku ndende. tingofuna kukupusitsani kuti ACB ikugwira ntchito.

  81. A Wa Mutharika dziwani kuti mwayambayo ndi minyama. Odillo saved the nation from civil strife on two occasions. Malawians owe him respect.

    Inuyo munaba K92b. Posachedwapa mwaba Ku NAC, ndi K6b za MSB. Kodi cashgate is corruption if only by those who don’t like your ideas?

  82. Pitala boma ngati lakukanika ndibwino kungopanga resign chifukwa mawa izi zidzathetsa ndalama zathu za msonkho. Pa manu ako akutha mkamwawo osamveka zoyankhula zako

  83. This was obvious. All the details about how the two embezzled government money were made available on MBC and we all know how much they stole. Please deal with them all. No one is above the law. Arrest them including the big J…B..DA because they stole together. Clean the mes and this is when the donors will have confidence in the Malawi government again. PLEASE SPARE NO BODY IN THIS CASH GATE SCANDLE. MALAWI WAS CLEAN BEFORE AND WE MUST MAKE IT CLEAN AGAIN NOW AND FOREVER MORE AMEN.

  86. Am not sure their crimes are well known to all of us, this is dpp government their usual leadship style. Mavuto WA a Malawi when government change, those in the previous one suffer most lero a UDF apuma kwalowa a PP, tiyenazoni. BODZA NKHANZA KUIPA MTIMA MPANKHOPE POMWE ANTHU ODYA NJOKA GOD IS WATCHING.

  87. The deal was brokered by mr paul mphwiyo. Amm sure he is next on the line.
    Arrest msonthi as well

  88. A DPP mukufuna dziko liyake moto otsazimitsa ku malawi kuno ? chifukwa anthuwa mukuwamanga onse ndi amene anali mu PP koma mbava zenizeni za DPP MUKUZISIYA za ma K92 billion. Enawa apanga kagulu kawo kakuvutitsani musamale.

  92. Let justice flow like air, getting to each corner of Mother Malawi. While we have respect for the retired Odillo, but we cannot be happy to hear he was playing part in facilitating looting of billions like it is being alleged. Once again, let justice flow or let it run, and run faster if it is a beast!

  95. Lomwe at each other but uyo ndi soja. Take care other wise akulowera nthengo. Anamaphiliphita ndi anthu ovuta. Osazalira m’mawa talangizatu apa. Thats Distruction of Peoples’ Profile. Kkkkk.

  96. Yavuta apa ndi witch hunting, unless a huge miracle happens koma as far as we all know this toothless ACB is just acting out of emmotions ndipo sangawine nkhaniyi

  98. That’s not witch hunting. Tikamakhala m’mipandomu tiziganizira kuti tsiku lina tizaisiya. Let the court prove whether they are guilty or not.

  105. oh my God. How about Toyota Malawi’s cashgate for green VXs sold by Richard Makondi and Rose Mkandawire, vehicles meant for Army were sold to civilians like Katsonga thats AXA 1 (Mr Account Number One)

  107. This is very good. Officers should never be plundering public funds meant for development of the country wily nily .

  108. If Malawi is not a sick and rotten country then there is no rotten country, why now and what about those in the ruling devil,s progressive party? When will Lucas and his toothless dogs start arresting people from dpp and mulankho cycle? It is an open secret that there are more in dpp please do your work well mr khondowe

  110. Palibepo nkhani apa,boma lidzawalipira ndalama zambiri mlandu ukadzakomera Odillo.

  112. Anyamata athu ku army munthu wankulu ammanga, muzingowona kodi? Takawotcheni ACB, changu.

  114. How about over K2bn cheques paid to S K Intetnational belonging to Fersons. Nayenso sanapange supply anangolandira ndarama.

  115. One step forward two steps backwards with the MSB saga and the planned dropping of the first cashgate Muluzi case. Selective justice

  117. What about Msonthi? He built a huge mansion from the same cash gate money exchanged with Thuso investments. Well these arrests were long overdue. Anyamata aku wire anadya nawo heavy anyamata a Thuso. Well done ACB. Redneck do you job.

  118. Mwayambo nanu zomwe zija,kuiyamba milandu koma osaimaliza kaya cimachitika ndi chani ?

  119. Malawians need to kick these bastards out of office prematurely.They are busy destracting tax-payers from genuine issues of their social and economic lives with a witch-hunting campaign.Mbendera and his friends need to be held accountable for bringing into office these corrupt and tribalistic maniacs.

    Where is the K92billion Cashgate? How about bailing out crooks from their MSB rip-off? These DPP Psychopaths have no good agenda for the country.They want to instill fear into the people using bogus arrests.APM should prove his mantle by providing jobs,drugs,good education,forex,food,etc to the people instead of riveting into issues that are political and non important to them.This guy wants to plough the land and lay it bare,ouch!

  120. Come on fellow citizens, let us not refer to any justified allegation witch-hunting. If the duo are clean they will prove themselves as such in a court of law. Why jump to conclusions?

  122. ACB please arrest those involved in 92 billion, and flesh issues on 6 billion Government want to for Mulli, this is another cash-gate

  126. ACB imayimba chiminingo njovu zitawononga kale, for what use, they know each other. No difference with or without ACB

  128. Koma zimenezo! Hokoyo, A odilo mukanatenga zikoli nthayi yolengeza mavoti ija bwezi zonsenzi kulibe. Kusamva komanso mantha. akufinye.

  129. Good move BUT the problem is that you still want to link all this to Amai especially that you have heard kuti akubwera. Lets not waste Government money on damages etc.

  131. Leaving Lutepo behind walking freely like an Angle koma pa nyasaland pano chilungamo palibe.

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