ACB probes K200m bribe claim in interest cap Bill: Summons MP Dzonzi after Malawi News report

The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has confirmed it is interested to investigate claims by Member of Parliament (MP) for Dowa West Alexander Kusamba Dzonzi (Malawi Congress Party) that he was offered K200 million bribe to abandon tabling of the Financial Services (Amendment) Bill in Parliament.

Matemba: We will get to the bottom of the issue

Dzonzi claimed in report which was published by Malawi News on Saturday that he was offered the bribe by a local commercial bank to drop the Bill, alsoknown as Interest Capping Bill.

The Bill, which proposes among other issues seek to put limits on how much interest rates banks, microfinance institutions, Saccos and other lenders can put on loans, has generated interest in the country.

ACB deputy Reyneck Matemba said the graft-busting body will summon Dzonzi and question him on the matter because the issue has “attracted public interest.” 

Said Matemba: “We have taken note of the allegation.”

He said the bureau will follow all to logical conclusions within the parameters of the law when conducting the investigations and “get tot he bottom of this issue.”

Meanwhile, government says it does not support the Bill because it is not consistent with the Constitution of the Republic of Malawi and other existing laws.

Minister of Information and Communications Technology Henry Mussa said the government could not have allowed a Bill that has loopholes.

Mussa in the statement argues that matters of monetary policy are provided for under Section 185 of the Republic Constitution and theReserve Bank of Malawi Act under which RBM under the leadership of the Governor are given powers to set and implement monetary policy in this country.

“The Registrar of Financial Institutions has no powers over these matters as is being suggested in this Bill. Any amendments of this nature are, therefore, a violation of the Republican Constitution and as per Section 5 of the Constitution renders them invalid and are tantamount to usurping constitutional powers of the Reserve Bank of Malawi.

“Any amendments in this regard, ought to start from the Constitution and thereafter, the RBM Act,” said Mussa.

But MCP’s legislator argues that government is lying and that the Section they have quoted doesn’t talk about interest rate charging as an exclusive mandate of RBM.

The government statement says section 185 (1) of the Constitution states that there shall be Central Bank known as Reserve Bank of Malawi established by an Act of Parliament, which shall serve as the State’s principal instrument for the control of money supply, currency and the institutions of finance and shall serve generally in accordance with the normal functions of a central bank. 

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Nyankhoma
Nyankhoma
5 years ago

Mr. Matemba, what were the findings on the death of your own Isa Njaunju?

AIsa
AIsa
5 years ago
Reply to  Nyankhoma

Death is not corruption nachidwe iwe.ACB doesnt probe death

chimanga Chaponda
5 years ago

Matemba moving in to quickly hide wrong doers…… SHAME

Andrew
Andrew
5 years ago

Nawo tsiku Lina a, azalira ngati oulutsa mavote 12mid night uja. God sees everyone

Tizanka
Tizanka
5 years ago

Why would we need the central bank if parliament is setting the monetary policy in the country. Isn’t it logical also to abolish the central bank and the position of the governor? Managing money supply involves monetary supply and the moment parliament takes on that role (which they aren’t qualified for) then it’s gonna be chaos. Bingu analankhula kale izi

Nalingula
Nalingula
5 years ago

Strange that only MCP and PP MPs were interested in Pushing this bill, amid speculations that Money has Changed hands.

Sibuno
Sibuno
5 years ago

I looks to me that this job is too tough for you. We are not getting results as expected, instead you have been working to vindicate big fishes. Leave these cases for now and the next government will take them up. Your aim is to present weak cases so that the offenders can be rescued.

Taonga
Taonga
5 years ago

We the public are still interested in the Chasowa case, Maizegate and Cashgate. Get down to business on pertinent issues. If I were to rate you, sorry I don’t have any 🌟 to even give you.

Gertrude
5 years ago

Ili ndi Dziko Iwe matemba ndipo udzafa infa yowawa
Chifukwa siukugwila ntchito yako mokomera amalawi .. mulungu adzakukanthani akulu.

Just resign and repent before it’s too late..

Ndipemphe mzimu oyera kuti ukuyendereni

Naphi
Naphi
5 years ago
Reply to  Gertrude

Mulungu ndi bwenzi la ochimwa, tonse ndi ana ake ochimwa ndi osachimwanu. Si bwino kumaopseza anthu mu dzina la Mulungu. Ngati anthu tili opemphera and tikuona kufunika kwa ntchito ya munthu mu dziko ndipo tikuona kuti pena pake akulakwitsa tiyeni tizitha kupemphererana mwa nseli mmalo momaopsezana mu dzina la Mulungu. Iye amakonda Aliyense. And kufunila wina za bwino osati zoipa ngakhale tikuona kuti ndi oipa zimatipangila ubwino.

Naphi
Naphi
5 years ago
Reply to  Gertrude

Yesu ndi bwenzi la ochimwa. Tonse, ochimwa ndi osachimwanu ndi ana ake. Si bwino kumaopseza anthu mu dzina la Mulungu. Ngati anthu tili opemphera and tikuona kufunika kwa ntchito ya munthu mu dziko ndipo tikuona kuti pena pake akulakwitsa tiyeni tizitha kupemphererana mwa nseli mmalo momaopsezana mu dzina la Mulungu. Si bwino kumafunilana zoipa pena kufunila nzathu za bwino ndi Mdaliso kwa ife eni.

Make Malawi Great
Make Malawi Great
5 years ago

Finish the 145 and 5 cars one first this one is not a case the call for the bribery was an international number which means the bank is smart to use its overseas brunch to solicit the bribe… its going to be hard for you to crack then heads here ( luck of evidence) but we have one phumbwa who returned the money this one on May 22 2019 take him in!!

Kumzy
Kumzy
5 years ago

Tru

chataika
chataika
5 years ago

Nkhani sikuti amalize ina kodi if one case is dragging due to logidtical challenges so does that mean we should wait until it is finished? Malawi wanga uli vuto ndithu kkkkkkk. Let ACB do its job ndinu nomwe amene mumati sapanga act now the issue is in the public domain and they keep quiet u will be the one pushing a blame on them. Pls matemba go ahead dont be dragged by anyone. Out of the 17 million ppo u r the only one whom you were appointed by president and confirmed by parliament. Enanu dikirani nthawi yanu musamusokoneze tagwirani… Read more »

Central
Central
5 years ago
Reply to  chataika

Kodi nanga bwanji nkhani ya magalimoto 5 ochokela kwa Karim kupita kwa APM, which also attracted public interest did not receive similar attention by ACB? K145m + K85m ndimayesa ndi K235m? Nde K200 ndi K235m chachikulu ndi chani? Why is ACB selective! Is it because Kusamba is from opposition? Tell Ryneck to stop the favouritism, being selective and being too bias………………!

Selective
Selective
5 years ago

Mr Matemba. There is God. The one who created heaven and earth. The one who formed you in your mothers womb. He is the just judge. He hates bias and corruption including corrupt minds. Malawi is getting worse because of people like you. God entrusted you and blessed you with that post to help His people. Now what you are doing is worshiping the human being whom God in His power used to appoint you. One day you will be answerable before God. You will have to give an account how you performed your duties. How do you sleep seeing… Read more »

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