‘Chakwera owes Malawians an explanation’: HRDC demands probe into ‘Covidgate’ companies
Rights activists are demanding that the government should investigate and blacklist all companies that inflated prices for goods and services during the Covid-19 pandemic.
In an audit report, it has been revealed that some companies inflated prices to benefit from the K6.2 billion Covid-19 money.
One such company is a fumigation firm owned by Pastor Martin Mainja of the Assemblies of God church and a close associate of president Lazarus Chakwera.
The Human Rights Defenders Coalition (HRDC) says government should investigate all companies that benefited from dubius deals as revealed in the report and if found in the wrong they should be blacklisted from ever benefiting from government projects.
In a statement HRDC read out at the news conference, the organisation’s national coordinator Luke Tembo said an audit report by the National Audit Office (NAO) on the embattled Covid funds shows that OPC handpicked a private firm, Pest Chem 1B at a cost of K97 million to fumigate government buildings although the Lilongwe District Health Office (DHO) could have done the job at a much lower price.
HRDC further demands the President to provide the nation with an explanation , saying the plunder of funds also happened at the Office of the President and Cabinet (OPC) and the presidential Task Force has been implicated too.
Further, HRDC has demanded that all senior officers involved in the abuse should be interdicted with immediate effect.
The human rights grouping has also demanded that those who stole the money should start paying back.
HRDC has also called on the President to institute a special court to expedite K6.2 billion Covid19 funds related cases.
They have also demanded that government should strengthen procurement systems saying current one is weak and many officers are taking advantage.
HRDC said law enforcement agencies such as the Malawi Police Service and the Office of the Director of Public Officers Declarations must investigate the suspects, failing which the human rights group will mobilise Malawians to go on the streets on April 29 this year.
So far, HRDC has given government seven days to act on all its demands.
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corruption is the abuse of power for personal gains to benefit a few individuals which motivated by greed for the benefit of a few individuals of a group of people who owe allegiance to their leader which is motivated by greed with the intention and desire to ratain and increase power. corruption feed expression in poor economies like Malawi. not surprising though corruption is thriving in the tonse adminstration because most of the people occupying key positions are either related or come from the same tribe or region. corruption feed expression in the appointment of family members, friends and relatives… Read more »
The reason behind the fumigating tender going to the pastor is because the chemicals used for fumigation were special and was anointed. 🥴
Mwawonjeza. Mungokhala ngati boma ndinutu. A president already said no.one would be spare. One thing at a time as there’s a procedure to be followed. The report has to go to Parliament etc. Laws have to be followed.
A malawi we replaced a petty thief with an armed robber. Chakwera nyauyi atiliza. Kam’busa kokuba osatimasewela. He is too busy stealing, he can’t even make a single right decision. Mayi Kalinga, malawi wane watondeka
Fish always rot from the head. Chakwera can’t be blameless for he is part and parcel of the rot in Tonse government. He is the godfather of these corruption and nepotism
This is disgusting to the core.These people are very selfish and we need to fast so that they should see what Gehazi became of after lying to the prophet. Fire from heaven destroy all evil in the name of JESUS. Fire from heaven do not spare any one from this evil enrichment in the name of JESUS.
I have lost trust in Tonse Government… you guys in Tonse Government are a shame. You better resign honourably.
You seriously thought there will be change in the way things are done? In Africa when we vote we just transfer power from one fool, thief and liar to another
At the rate we are going, Malawi is just being run like a ship without a captain. Not surprising that everyone has decided to join the thieving bandwagon. Tonse Alliance had its priorities wrong. Instead of hitting the ground running, they chose to victimise political opponents. That coupled with “Manja lende” worsened things. Unfortunately, when you choose to stop reasoning, every move you make is disastrous. The route aBusa has picked is very dangerous and not conducive to democracy. He invites senior army officers to a dinner in order to garner support from them that in an event push turns… Read more »
There is an attempt to cover Pets Chem 1 B is these shoddy dealings orchestrated by Zangazanga Chikhosi but things will soon be laid bare. CHIKHOSI managed to go away with the NOCMa fuel procurement deals because we have a sleeping opposition and civil society but this time around he has been exposed on how he is abusing his office. Apart from cutting corners to award such contracts he is also giving employment contracts to unqualified people.
Was pest chem awarded a contract through competitive bid.
That fool nankhumwa is part of tonse alliance, instead of standing up for Malawians he is silent because he knows he is eating with tonse alliance. That fat fool
Zangazanga is doing serious renovations of his house in area 10. Definitely he has landed some good cash. He must be investigated
Kuchosa litsiro mmatupi kunyumba ya chifumu.Ulendo wakumwamba uja mwafika basi abwana,ife tili pansi pomwepa.Nowa ndi mbumba yake mkomwe muliko.