Chakwera vows to fight Malawi ‘criminal enterprise’: No sacred cows
President Lazarus Chakwera warned that government will move to recover all the stolen public funds, interdict all public officers implicated in the thcontroversial K6.2 billion Covid-19 fund, whose audit has shown gross abuse, discipline them and then ban any business impilicated from any future government contracts.
Chakwera issued the sterrn warning during a televised national address from Mtunthama state residence in Lilongwe.
“I have decided to use independent and investigative audits to ensure that our pursuit of thieves is backed by evidence that will stand up in court. And now that the evidence related to the K6.2 billion is before us, I am taking action,” he said.
President Chakwera said police have started effecting arrests of individuals suspected of committing the crimes exposed by the audit report.
“This includes an arrest at the Office of the President and Cabinet. There are no sacred cows. In fact, as other individuals that the evidence points to are identified and tracked down, there will be more arrests,” said Chakwera.
He added: “So, I want all the thieves hiding in the civil service to mark my words: If the finger of evidence points to you as one of the thieves who stole Covid money for saving lives while hundreds of our people were dying of Covid, you are going to prison.
“On top of that, we will use the relevant laws to ensure that you pay back what you stole. Mubweza! [Pay back.}
These actions notwithstanding, Chakwera said, there are other actions that must be taken by other independent branches of government and independent governance institutions, and he assure dthem of his full support to carry out their mandates.
He pointed out that the Constitution places the mandate of arresting suspected criminals on law-enforcement agencies like the Malawi Police Service, the Anti-Corruption Bureau, and the Financial Intelligence Authority.
“For the first time in Malawi, these are working independently and are being funded adequately. As such, those of you running these institutions must stop letting the country down and do your jobs in bringing those implicated by this report to book, or else I will have you replaced.
“The Constitution places the mandate of trying and sentencing criminals on the Judiciary, but I think I speak for all Malawians when I say that we do not want these crimes to take years to adjudicate. I have therefore directed the Minister of Justice to engage the Chief Justice on the support the Judiciary needs to expedite the cases related to this K6.2 billion, as well as all open and past cases related to the theft of public resources,” said Chakwera.
He also said the Law empowers the Public Procurement and Disposal of Assets Authority (PPDA) to enforce the government’s compliance with procurement laws and procedures.
“I therefore call on this institution to do its job with a sense of urgency, including ensuring that all companies named in this audit report for defrauding Malawians, as well as the individuals who direct those companies, are debarred from supplying goods, works, and services to government forthwith.”
The President said he tasked the Vice President Saulos chilima to form a Taskforce that will recommend radical changes to the structure of the entire civil service, as well as the entire system of allowances, employment contracts, and procurement in the public sector to root out corruption.
“Those recommendations are due for submission to my office in the next four weeks, after which we will take the next steps towards my goal of overhauling this broken and rotten system from top to bottom.”
Malawian professor of law at the University of Cape Town in South Africa, Danwood Chirwa argued that Covid-19 funds were disbursed for no purpose than feeding patronage networks and as soft bribes to some connected government employees and elected and appointed officials.
He said the funds provided the first opportunity for plunder by this government, arguing, “only a small fraction of the funds was directed to hospitals and clinics for medical care”.
In quotes reports din the press, Chirwa decried: “It is most disturbing that such a thing has happened. It shows, first of all, that there is no system for controlling the use of government funds, and that senior government officials participate in the misuse. For all that has been spent and wasted, there’s absolutely nothing to show.
“This is why sending a clear message from the top that abuse of State funds will not be tolerated helps. If people get fired or held accountable by political leaders first and the government adequately supports the crime fighting agencies, then there’s a chance. ”
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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The Bakili Muluzi and MPHWIYO corruption cases of 2006 and 2013 respectively are long overdue, some of us will only take this Govt seriously if these two cases are concluded.
We are tired of mere stories.
It just blow my brains to see our officials dancing in SOUTH AFRICA
kwhile everyone here back home all in sombre moods on daily base losing friends family relatives from covid! kukhala ngati analibe nazo ncito ngati amafinika .nde ndalama zokuba like mocking the malawians . Am failing to take this in. honestly
Yessssss!! lock them up at Maula! well done Sir
NO SACRED COWS. INDEED, LET THERE BE NO SACRED COWS.
Class action lawsuit is needed for all the families whose relatives died due to government negligence in this Covid-Gate issue. People must be properly compensated with millions of kwacha per family. That is justice. Arresting the looters is one half of the battle.
when hospitals were run dry of oxygen for covid patients,pipo dying like locuts,you were busy diverting the required money for personal use?muli ndi mzimu inu? 7 billion…MISSING?koma a Malawi tangoti pheeeeeeeeeeee,anazizilisa mitima yathu ndani?kukanakhala ku maiko anzathu,lero everyone would have been in the street protesting,chifukwa cha abale athu anamwalira aja akusowa oxygen mzipatala.Lucky this is malawi-pipo with warm hearts.
With this right move……I owe you another vote in 2025 if you finish up the race in the interest of Malawians.
For those who misused covid-19 funds, let them pay back indeed and face the long arm of Law. Lamulo limagwira ntchito munthu akalilakwira. So its not politics but the law itself.
Chakwera must account for the 17 billion kwacha covid money first before we take him seriously. Kodi why are people silent about 17 bn kwacha covid money which Chakwera used for bye election campaign?? And why are people silent about Bendulo employment? And why are people silent about independence celebration money which grew wings? And why are people silent about crossroads cashgate?
Dictator in the making
that will be great
U stole u pay, end of the story.
That is good and he has to be for this country to move..
Zoona Zenizeni bwelani muzamutenge anaba nawo
Sorry President Chakwera the ‘sacred cows’ are your huge family, relatives and incompetent Chewa Ministers, so get rid of them first. Kandodo was at least an experienced Minister, wait his sacking with haunt you.
Bravo Mr. President! This is my vote working.
At this rate, be assured of my vote again in 2025
Nop..this is mere rhetoric. Chakwera employed known criminals at statehouse like Kapondamgaga who had issues of theft at FUM. Gedion Kalumbu was involved in rape of a minor and has theft issues at MCA. Chikhosis busy setting criminal cartels in government where he is putting his agents in key positions. If anything all this theft happened under his watch. Surprisingly Chakwera has asked this criminal to dismiss his fellow criminals. The mainja issue was done in his office yet Chakwera chose to spare him.
This was just talk. Nothing will happen. Those people arrested cant be prosecuted without evidence of crime. Its no crime get an allowance for an activity. The Pest chem guy was only paid for doing work for the government…i.e. normal business… and you cant arrest him for that.
Malawians we easily get fooled with speeches. All these problems are strategic issues. You cant just give money to councils without proper plans but rather tell them kuti its covid money. The leader of the taskforce for covid should be blamed for this and not a mere accounts clerk. A clerk doesnt even authorize a payment. But a whole minister had to use the money for allowance to South Africa and then later claim it was borrowed.
These are strategic problems and not operational. Deal with the heads who will then deal with their bodies.
timadabwatu a Director of Health pa Salima samagwirika
tikhwefulireni munthu uyu ananmera mapiko kwambiri
Chakwera chakwera, you are now finished from inside. Kasungu group after you now.
You have protected your son and inlaws, who ate covid money we know. This will end in tears for you.
The president mentioned it right: The key institutions are Malawi Police Service, Anti Corruption Office and the Puplic Procurement and Disposal of Assets Authority ! But the up hill struggle remains HE and your suddenly so quiet VP, who controls this guys? Are they not the same way inflicted in corrupt activities? They might work sufficient when there is a political purpose against government inflicted, or on non indigenous business people, but what about when it comes to ministers/ civil servants linked to the ruling party and their allies in the private sector?
Chakwera is trying to fool us, as his entire government is corrupt. Remember a fish rots from the head down. This is a chewa President looking after his large family and the rest of the chewas. Basi. Muntu yu is corrupt. Let him start by telling us what is deal with SKC is and rid his family members from being anywhere near government jobs and contracts.
He has acted my brother. Whatelse do you want from the man? This government you are talking about was mostly inherited from the DPP. It will be uprooted ad a better one put in place.
Hmmmm… mukanayamika kaye the action taken by the President before launching your dissatisfaction. That’s good for mature writing.
Or you also never saw Chakwera coming? He used the time to learn and now knows the Government System better ndiye alumatu. Musanati, mulira mokweza mawu.
Apa mpo eee abusa mwayambadi kuluma kwenkwene. Chano chalo chikhala chabwino maningi.Ndalama za misonkho yathu zigwire nchito yake osati kungoponya mmatumba.Ma contract achinyengo atheretu .
Mukumva bwanji mthupimo ma cadeti? Ngati ma minister akugwa nazo …. nanga game ikafika kwa inu zidzatha bwanji ? Apulofesa anu ndi aja ayamba kale kulira …. easy cadeti easy 😆😆😆
Boma. Limapana, panu
likapana limaluma
likaluma……
PSA KOKA, GGWILA
pakamwa mpa boma. amene ujaso ankanena iziziuja wakhala pan’gono adikile
President is the Head of the enterprise and its biggest benefactor,. Unless the president stop recommending tribesmen and his friends for government jobs the criminal enterprise will continue to flourish fed by the president.
Izi ndi nsanje chabe. The president is doing his job and is getting rid of all those who are letting the system down. Sit back and relax.
Zikomo very true and spot on. Chakwera is the Godfather to whom the corrupt in government give his lion share. All being arrested or sacked are his people.
sitikuzifuna zithelwtu.
acina muluzi
jb
bingu
pitala
ndomwe amanyanya cinthanga cimene cija.