Chakwera promises ‘no retribution’: JB traces genesis of Cashgate to DPP, conscious clear on jet sale
Malawi’s former president, Joyce Banda, has again denied any involvement in the Cashgate, the plunder of public resources at Capital Hill, saying she has evidence the corruption scandal exposed under her watch in 2013 had started during the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) regime before she became Head of State in 2012.
JB, as Banda is widely known by her initials, has withdrawn from the presidential race in the May 21 2019 Tripartite Elections and instead endorsed Lazarus Chakwera of Malawi Congress Party (MCP).
Speaking at a joint news conference in Lilongwe on Monday to reaffirm the MCP-PP alliance, Banda said the issue of Cashgate has been repeatedly spoken about and that she has made it clear that she played no role.
She argued that prior to Cashgate, the K236 billion theft happened between 2009 and 2012 when former president the late Bingu Wa Mutharika was in charge, saying she has a letter written by former Reserve Bank of Malawi governor Perks Ligoya to late president Bingu about the financial malfeasance.
According to Banda, there must be a stubborn link between the K236 billion scam and the Cashgate which upon being alerted when JB was in power, she publicly announced she would crack down on all thieves.
Later, with the help of the British government, she instituted a forensic audit, which was carried by the British-based RSM (formerly known as Baker Tilly) audit firm.
“Following the audit, many people, including top public officers, were arrested, prosecuted and convicted in connection with cashgate,” she said.
But Banda told reporters that she was “gagged” by Chief Secretary to the Government Lloyd Muhara through a letter, from disclosing any information she was privileged to access while serving as President of Malawi between April 2012 and May 2014.
In a letter dated June 21 2007 seen by Nyasa Times, Muhara reminded the former Head of State on the need to adhere to the oath of secrecy that required both current and former presidents, members of Cabinet, current and retired to observe secrecy and confidentiality.
“I wish to highlight that the Oath of Secrecy that Your Excellency undertook when in office is still binding even after Your Excellency relinquished your duties as the President of the Republic of Malawi,” reads in part the letter.
It adds: “In view of this, I would like to respectfully remind Your Excellency to refrain from commenting in the media or diverging [sic – the right word should have been divulging] any information that Your Excellency were privileged to know while serving as President of the Republic of Malawi.”
The former president said she was warned that a crusade against corruption would ruffle feathers and make enemies, but she was determined to stay the course.
Banda said all talk about arrest and whatever has been, were mere political ploy to scare her away so that she should not return to Malawi to contribute to the political, social and economic development of the country.
One year since she returned home Banda has not been arrested or even questioned by law enforcers despite earlier political pronouncations that there was a warrant of arrest for her.
During the news conference, a journalist asked Chakwera if he would pursue a probe into the sale of the presidential jet now that Banda is supporting his presidential bid.
In response, Chakwera said if elected as President, he will not investigate or persecute anyone involved in jetgate scandal but will let the “able organisations to do their work”.
He said: “We have cases in this country where our former Heads of State have been taken to court but up to now the cases are not completed.
“Let’s stop witch-hunting and leave it to institutions which are responsible for handling corruption cases to handle the investigations.”
Taking her turn, Banda said her conscious is clear on the sale of the presidential jet.
Banda said the jet was sold after Cabinet approved and then Office of the President and Cabinet (OPC), which was headed by Bright Msaka (now Minister of Education), facilitated the sale of the jet.
“There is no [State asset] bigger than the plane that can be sold without Attorney General signing [the deal],” said Banda.
She said the Attorney General who signed the sale approval and the then Chief Secretary to OPC were still around.
“I am very, very comfortable about that issue. I am one person who believes that I served my country well,” she said.
The $15 million (about K6.3 billion) proceeds of the jet sale never went into government’s consolidated account and instead the Attorney General facilitated the transfer of the funds from Bohnox Enterprises, which bought the jet, to Paramount Group, its mother company.
Since Banda left government, the DPP government has been making secret payments to Paramount Group, the company that purchased the jet, attracting the wrath of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in the process as the move breached conditions of the Extended Credit Facility (ECF).
The move also prompted IMF managing director Christine Lagarde to write Finance, Economic Planning and Development Minister Goodall Gondwe and Reserve Bank Governor demanding answers.
The Mutharika administration, which previously said it would cancel all government contracts the company signed during the Banda regime, paid Paramount Group about K15 billion (about $23 million) for the same.
There were no indications at Treasury that a probe took place.
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Ukuwuza mwana olo ndani ingokhalani chete mama
Paja
MCP mean Malawi Crocodile Party in Chichewa Chipani cha aNg’ona
PP means Plundering Party or Predatory Party in Chichewa Chipani Chakuba
JB, you are lying. Mphwiyo was the masterminder of cashgate as the budget Director. He was appointed by you JB to that position. That was not DPP’s time. The genesis of cashgate is, therefore, you JB.
Lutepo told Malawians that he was bringing the cashgate money to you JB at Kamuzu palace. There is no way that Lutepo can mistaken DPP leadership with you, JB.
Lutepo told Malawians that you were sending him with cashgate money to Chakwera in 2013 for campaign. That revelation was never disputed by neither yourself JB nor Chakwera. Since you JB was stealing money from government and giving some to Chakwera, one can conclude that now it’s Chakwera’s turn to steal from Government and share with you..
There is, therefore, ample evidence that the genesis of cashgate is you, JB.
Mwati mibwera ndi helo kopta pa ma rallies mukope anthu pamene inu mukugona pofewa ,mapwando mondy to friday simmakumbukila nao anthuwa nde lelo muli kubwera helo? Fundo zanu mukawauzila from helo? Omwe akupaptsani helo ni vitsilu vofuna kubweretsa cipwilikiti pakati pathu. Mmumapita kunja kukawanamiza with dress and address to impress yet those dudes dont know how we are suffering under the hipoccricy ideology.
MIND US PLEASE
Cakwera are trying to lick someones arse as JB,when we all know what she did? This sucks
Better go bak to your pulpit and give this hipocracy idea and u think they will listen to u idiot. Uzatha ngati makatani omwe anaba ku Jb ku state house. Paja anathothola ndi makatani omwe. No wonder she is hiphoping hitch hiking from party to party. Whore and bastard you are. A malawitu siomwe aja mmangomwetsa mnsuzi inu kumadya nyama. Fwetseke. Munyatu
Chilima and the UTM carries a day everyday! UTM is for a real change towards developing Malawi. Chilima rocks!!!!!!!!!!!
Looking at what JB says in this article Muhara was ruling Malawi during JB’s tenure of office. Shupit Jesbel abiti Mtila, you feared Muhara? You were taking orders from Muhara? rubbish woman.
Whether there is evidence or not linking abiti Mtila to cashgate and jetgate Chakwera has just lost my respect and my vote!
Fucking hypocrite!
you have no issue-why not ask anti-corruption bureau and DPP why they have not arrested her. Chakwera is not president of Malawi
End of Chakwera.. jb is a corrupt woman. All she is doing is to find employment for his not intelligent son. She is doing exactly what Bakili has done for his son.
MCP will regret. Malawians have not forgotten how state resources were abused during her time. Kumapita ndi ma bodyguard kumowa. Sic.
I will now vote for DPP.
How can you vote for DPP who are failing to arrest JB, anyway go ahead vote for DPP
Am sceptical the motive behind this coalition as to whether Malawians are put first
This is the new MCP, fully employed to do the PR (Public Relations) of PP and Joyce Banda. Now Dr Chakwera is busy defending cashgate, explaining jetgate and housing thieves while leaving the real bona-fide MCP members in the cold. Now l see why the Nkholokolos were crying foul, they were right all along. MCP is now a den of iniquity, a brothel for political prostitutes and has lost its moral campus.
Kkk chipani chokupha Solobala atamumanga muthumba anamukhomera misomali pamutu
Gadama anavula magalasi mmaso kuti musanandiphe ndiyambe ndapemphera monga iye anali mkatolika paja
Ng’ona ayamba kuziweta ku city centre komanso ku stella maris
Ayitanisa uniform 455,000 ya mayouth league yofira ija kuchokera ku kampani ina ku Kuwait
Ndizambiritu mcp ati kukonzekera kulowa muboma kumeneko kkk
KULIRA KWANU KUKUMVEKA……………MWADZADZIDWA NDI MANTHA MCP/PP IS COMING ….AND YOURE LOSING IT EVERYDAY…
Kkkkkk…..JUSTICE SHOULD FLOW LIKE WATER….IF YOU HAVE ANY EVIDENCE AGAINST MAMA BRING IT FORWARD…..
ELSE STOP MAKING NOISE FOR NOTHING
WHY ACCUSE CHAKWERA OF FUTURE THINGS, PETER MUTHARIKA IS THE PRESIDENT NOW, SO IF YOU JB TO ARRESTED BLAME APM
Inu oChakwera: all that bid talk in the past about Cashgate and corruption is now small talk after a meeting with Joisi Banda?
Have you lost your moral compass, now? No empathy for the poor folks who were victimized by Joisi Banda”s cashgate
You will be judged in the ballot box on May 21st. baasi.
I think it’s really true that libidous Chakwera wakwera Joyce. this Abiti Ntila must be sweety juicy down there.
Chakwera’s Hi-5 has become Low-5. How will he and MCP campaign on ANTI-CORRUPTION!
The leadership of Chakwera has no character and moral values.Abiti Ntila is a suspect for misusing resources meant for the poor for her personal benefit in so many ways.By accepting Ntila into their fold has proved that MCP is corrupt as well.Sometimes if try to redefine certain principles without proper research you end up being a disgrace.
Currently there is no evidence to prove that in a court of law. If it was available DPP would have already started court proceedings against her. Why is DPP not arresting her?. They know that they started cash gate.
SO WHY IS DPP GOVERNMENT NOT ARRESTING HER, HAS SHE BRIBED PETER MUTHARIKA?
Muli anthu wopephela kuposa Chakwera
DPP should at once stop fooling Malawians. The DPP does not explain their part on the allegations that they are master minders of cashgate. They now think that their previous formula of using cashgate as a campaign tool is going to work again. Never again.Once beaten twice shy. Malawians now know the truth.
Chakwera has lost it. You can’t fight corruption whilst keeping a thief in your house. Mwagwa nayo chifukwa chofuna mavoti.
Who is a thief? Even DPP has no proof that JB is a thief coz if they had she could have been in jail. DPP knows the truth coz during bingus error 256billion kwacha went missing, whilst during PP error 24 billion went missing and even the DPP has failed to connect this to JB. Cash gate virus belongs and came from DPP.
Wakuba ndi ndani? Banda sanabe ukuganiza Amati abe asanamangidwe? And you know how politics in malaei works
The MCP is now fully employed in defending cashgate, explaining stolen planes, oil deals and shots into the mandable. A total shame! Kamuzu must be rolling in his grave.
Joyce Banda, undiyakheafunso awa
(1) Anasakha a Lutero unduna anali Bingu akapena iweyo?
(2) Ndalama zimene ankaba Lutepo ankapatsa Bingu kapena iweyo
(3) Anagulitsa ndege anali Bingu kapena iweyo?
(4) Ananama kuti wagula chimanga kenako nkumati chimanga chaola koma asaoneka pamene chakatayidwa anali Bingu kapena iweyo?
Who can you fool? Sooner or later you will pay for these sins, a DOMINEERING THIEF and Queen of thieves.
Koma iwe ndiye ulibe ulemu ! Kodi mayi Joyce banda angafanane ndi malemu mayi ako ?
Ngati mayi ako anachuka kunali kuwabvulira azibambo osiyanasiyana kumudzi kwanu.
Demeti iwe , wandikwiyitsa kwambiri
True I have no respect for thieves or even those who associate with thieves. Let her just explain why she sold the plane and why she dumped the proceeds from that deal into her account. Let her clear herself from the allegations made by many or all cashgate convicts that she was the greatest beneficiary of the ill-gotten money. I know that, she kwows that, you know that and everyone knows that also. Its an open secret now and declassified information. Only that in your severe or disproportionately or in your extreme sexy or lust for power, you have chosen to ignore this and sweep that under the carpet and forget.
Heavyduty MCP and PP alliance yakuwawa kwambiri. You are talking about Lutepo, ndege, chimanga, what about the K577 billion, later reduced to K236billion. Was that money stolen by JB or DPP. Auditors recommended a forensic audit on all these and the 13 files which were handed to the ACB for furtrher investigations. Mpaka pano DPP ya Peter Mutharika inayikhalira–swept under the carpet. You have nothing to say. These thungs will be investeigated once the MCP-PP are in power.
Anthu awa mwati mtima wao uli pofuna kuthandiza a Malawi kapena kuzithandiza okha. Joisi banda has money moti atha kumangokhala moyo wake onse akudya money, former presidential benefits pompo, koma ayi ali busy kufuna kuzatibelabe.
Naonso amuna awo kumangotsatira basi?
Mia has influence Chakwera to go to bed with MCP. Because of poverty MCP and his Chakwera have no muscles. This is detrimental to The MCP whose chances of winning an election has now been reduced further by this alliance .
JB’s futile attempt to avoid prosecution. Malawians will not allow that.
The flood gates of CASHGATE are now wide open
Am now totally confused
All parties are running to MCP, sindidabwa kumva kuti DPP is also contemplating of joining MCP kkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk because their biggest enemy is UTM
Izi ndiye za ma rubbish zomwe zikukanidwazo!
UTM is our only hope now.
Wait for 21 May 2019 where you will see the benefit and importance of this alliance. you can talk a lot now but a day of harvest is coming. you will witness Chakwera being sworn in as State President courtesy of this alliance.
By any means necessary eti? Even accepting corruption? No thank you.
PP is there to destroy MCP, Lets just look at the picture( Harry Mkandawire, Mia, JB, Matola all PP members)MCP wake-up
You forgot Kunkuyu, Gwengwe, Zikhale ng’oma, Wakuda Kamanga, Gotani Hara……….
MCP is full of recycled politicians now…….When we voted PP out of government, it was because of these guys’ behaviours for taking us for granted now akufuna alowenso m’boma? Anthu omwewo tinawakana kale 2014 aja? Come on Malawians we can do better than these idiots, they surely take us for granted……Honestly I feel story for MCP now yasanduka Agalatiya opusa kuyamba bwino kutsirizira ndizoipa. I won’t be surprised if Reverend Mzomera Ngwira and Chenjigolo Uladi Mussa joins them as well.
MCP was established in 1959 by the Tonga people Orton Chirwa and Aleke Banda who later handed over to a chewa leader Kamuzu Banda to run. So you can see from Tonga then Chewa, then Sena, then Chewa again very powerful party existing till to date. Henga Bay please go to your drawing board and study again about MCP. It is not mother, brother, father party. It is a party for all nations of Malawi. What you should be asking yourself is will DPP survive in Malawi once ousted come 21 May 2019 with this alien from USA.
A JB siyani kunamiza anthu. when u assumed office the commission of inquiry u instituted was that of Chasowa and in a month the report was on ur desk. the question is “what did u do with that report if indeed it DPP which had a hand in his killing?”
On K236m cashgate what made you not to arrest the dpp officials who were involved in this scam? Pls u r a church goer stop misleading malawians we are not kids we r able to follow all the events in our beloved land.
U went on closing all the accounts for Bingu in RSA, UK etc to do with 64 Billion kwacha what can u say to malawians. Munazipeza ndalamazo?
Chonde my country malawi with its leaders lets avoid creating stories for the sake of it. All our leaders i love u bcoz ndinu wana athu in this land and tomorow it will be me either an MP or minister even the president who knows kkkkkk so lets be objective enough.
Big up? Rational comment
How does Chakwera reconcile fighting corruption with shielding and protecting a suspected thief. Chakwera is just another useless hypocrite.
Chilima will go after all those involved in jet gate. No beating about the bush
Waste of time banking on Chilima… he’s equally a hungry, useless bugger!
UTM Supporters are saying it out of frustration which is your culture and the purpose of your party is to end frustration not develop malawi. PP, Cassim Chilumpha pulled out of your agreement because of your selfishness and greediness and lack of good will for Malawians. So blame it to your poor leaders who have contirubtued to the suffering of Malawians for all the 5 years. PP has made the right choice at the right no wonder UTM is angry with bird flying out of their hands . UTM can not rule this country. Its either MCP or DPP.
Where, when and how? He only has two months to do that…before he begins to enjoy his retirement package that he boasts about…
He was VP and with APM promised they will look into the sale of the jet when in power. Ask them what they found it. He was chief of civil service reforms you think SKC didnt ask about these transactions. He was asked by BBC Hardtalk about JB. Google the show and see what he said about JB. Why did he talk to JB about coaliton if he thought JB was guilty?
So what did you do after you realised that cash gate began with DPP? Why did you not arrest the suspects?
MCP taken over by PP. Indeed greed for money has led to Chakwera selling MCP to PP. Going to bed with Queen of cashgate
I think most comments against this coalition are not coming from MCP or PP, rather they are coming from a let down UTM and a worried DPP supporters