Chakwera fires Minister Kandodo for Covid-19 funds abuse: Malawi leader refuses to have ‘traitors’ in cabinet
President Lazarus Chakwera has dropped Minister of Labour Ken Kandodo from his Cabinet after he took K1.4 million from the ministry’s project account on Covid-19, to use as allowances on a trip to South Africa last year, and the Malawi leader has warned to pursue thieving public officers implicated in the K6.2 billion investigative audit 0n Covid-19.
An audit into the funds showed that Labour Commissioner Hlalerwayo Kelvin Nyangulu pocketed K829 170 while Kandodo got K613 587.47 in allowances while accompanying President Chakwera to South Africa in October 2020.
The money was part of the controversial K6.2 billion Covid-19 fund, whose audit has shown gross abuse.
The two only paid it back on February 24 2021, yet that money was supposed to be used by end of December 2020; repayment was also finalised after an audit on the K6.2 billion had been instructed.
In his televised address from Mtunthama State residence in the capital Lilongwe on Sunday evening, President Chakwera said he has sacked Kandodo as he was named by the audit report as having spent Covid funds amounting to K613 thousand on his allowances for a trip.
“I have dropped him from my Cabinet accordingly. Even though the Minister has since returned the money, his usage of the funds means that the money was unavailable for its intended purpose when it was needed most.
“And I cannot have in my Cabinet any individuals who either spend money budgeted for one thing on something else or do not ask tough questions to ensure that the money they are spending on something was budgeted for that purpose,” said Chakwera.
President Chakwera described anyone who steals or wastes public funds as a traitor.
“As far as I am concerned, anyone who steals or wastes public funds is a traitor to our country,” he said.
Kandodo, who once served as Finance Minister, conceded that that he was “disappointed” for being dropped from Cabinet.
“It’s a total shock,” he said.
The President, a former preacher, said he prays that “God’s curse will rest on anyone who steals even one kwacha of the public funds that God has entrusted us to use in serving Malawians.”
The audit report, among others, has recommended that those officers who took part in the malpractices, which resulted in the loss of funds, should pay back the money and that the government must ensure that all malpractices that are criminal in nature should be handed over to law enforcement agencies for further attention and action.
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Sacking Kandodo is simply wrong.
Chakwera felt threatened by Kandodo. Remember the rumours prior to the election that Kandodo was aspiring to head MCP.
It is the PS who is the Controlling Officer in charge of expenditure, and the PS has to authorise all payments the Ministry makes even to the Minister. So Chakwera has erred big time. Invoking God’s punishment etc, calling Kandodo a traitor etc. is the behaviour of a failing President. Chakwera should stop misleading Malawians- we are awake and know the behaviour of false prophets like him
I am not sure if Dr Chakwera feel threatened by Ken Kandodo. You will recall that KK left MCP for PP and stood on it’s ticket. It was out of honour for Amon Nkhata to pave way fro he to stand again on the MCP ticket in 2019. I don’t think KK can stand LMC
Nyangulu sadzatheka ndithu. Unamunamiza chiyani Chunga munthu wabwinobwino. Nawe Kandodo sukadapempha ndalama from Treasury? Kodi kunja mumabweretsako chiyani cha phindu. Ministry of Labour is very important but it is spoiled by greed. The core business of the ministry is not fulfilled. Labour problems are numerous in industries. People are working long hours. That 48 hours per week is abused. Workers have no time to rest. Health and safety issues are very pathetic. Inu what you do is grab any opportunity to make money. Kusakhuta bwanji?
The president should learn from this mistake ,and appoint people with good reputation. Kandodo was was fired by BP&P when he took money from the company for mwitha to multiply. MCP has career crooks like Gerald Kazembe who are holding top positions .
Dr. Laz vinjateni vonsee ivo vinduna vokuba. Vimbava votchena vikalumubwe ndi virombo ku piridzoniko.. as the journey continues!
Imvetsetseni khaniyi guys mupeza kuti a Kandodo ngosalakwa. Anyamata a Finance alakwitsa munthu wamkulu ndipo amupepese. A Minister does not transact in any way, he is just on the receiving end. Pepani Bwana Kandodo, Omwa Tea adzamwanso basi.
Esse valor corresponde a 100,000 Mts. Um ministro pode mesmo roubar esse valor? E uma vergonha essa justificacao da sua demissao no Governor. Lamento.
The minister was careless, he deserved the sack from cabinet.
I am not for Kandodo either for Chakwera. What I can say is that izizi zalakwika. The Decision is NOT proper. My understanding from the Civil Service prospective is that when Ministers or anybody in Government travels, when the cheque for airfare or allowances comes, we don’t (they don’t) ask where the funds are coming from, and this has been a trend in Government, the traveller or officers just receive the payment without going into so much details of where the payment is coming from. So, I just feel Honourable Kandodo has been unfairly fired. Before firing Government officers, I… Read more »
Abale tatulutsaniso clip ya nankhumwa ija . yonena za envelope analandila ija! mwaiwake ankanena ekha. a polisi amutenga litilo?? bastard akazifotokoze who handed it to him. LET THE TRAIL APPEAR .
Paja Namkumwa anali yekha komanso ndi amene amayang’anira ndi kugawa ndalama za covid so chomcho?