ACB grills Nankhumwa over obscene wealth: Malawi Minister defends his multimillion donation

Minister of Local Government and Rural Development  Kondwani Nankhumwa appeared before the graft busting body, the Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) investigators who are probing the source of his recent K21 million donation to his constituency.

ACB spokesperson Egritta Ndala confirmed Nankhumwa, one of the powerful cabinet ministers and President Peter Mutharika’s inner circle appeared before the investigators in Lilongwe on a Saturday.

Nankhumwa, legislator for Mulanje Central, was recently queried by commentators to disclose the source of funds for the donation of an ambulance, 300 bicycles and two motorbikes he made to his constituents.

She, however, refused to give details on the meeting, saying ACB is still investigating the matter.

“He told us the source of the donation and we are still investigating the matter,” she said.

Some critics questioned the source of the money when just two years ago, he struggled to find money for fuel during campaign in the run up to the election when his party, the Democratic Progressive Party was in opposition.

Ndala said ACB would inform the nation the outcome of its investigations at an appropriate time.

The cash-rich Nankhumwa has sent  Nyasa Times  receipts and documents relating to the purchase of the items in question.

He said the ambulance that people are talking about was bought from United Kingdom for 2 700 pounds (K2.7 million) through a friend.

“Ambulances, if people do not know, are imported duty-free. For the bicycles, I have been planning and saving funds for a long time to assist party members from my constituency. The bicycles cost me K10 million after discounts, and I bought them from Farmers World.

“The motorbikes, which I bought for police in my constituency, cost me K10 million. This is something any MP or minister, with proper plan and a heart to assist their constituencies can afford,” said Nankhumwa.

Nankhumwa confirmed that he is now a wealthy politician.

Said Nankhumwa: “Apart from being an MP or a Cabinet minister, I have a right to run businesses just like any other Malawian. I have a radio station, Mzati FM, which is doing well businesswise. I also have maize mills, among other businesses.

“It is, therefore, too illogical to conclude that Nankhumwa cannot afford this and that, only so and so can. It is high time Malawians rejected this disease of looking down upon others.

“There are people who knew me as Nankhumwa, an employee of MBC [Malawi Broadcasting Corporation], with nothing much to show for. But people must accept life has stages; we cannot all go through the same stages and we must humbly accept realities this life offers.”