Crackdown on looters: Malawi police arrest MRA’s Roza Mbilizi

July 10, 2020 Wanga Gwede - Nyasa Times 34 Comments

Malawi Police Service fiscal department has arrested controversial   deputy commissioner general at Malawi Revenue Authority (MRA) Roza Mbilizi on allegation of abuse of office and bootleg deals at the public tax collector.

Mbilizi: Face law enforcers grilling

National Police spokesperson James Kadadzera confirmed the arrest, adding that Mbilizi was being kept at Blantyre Police Station.

Among other issues that Mbilizi is being probed is sale of MRA houses and how she facilitated   clearance of the duty-free 400 000 bags of cement worth K3.2 billion which  immediate former president Peter Mutharika imported from Zambia and Zimbabwe between 2018 and 2019.

Legal experts questioned  the volume involved on the “personal use” provision in the Presidents (Salaries and Benefits) Act and called for an investigation.

The Presidents (Salaries and Benefits) Act allows the President “duty free importation of items for personal use”.

Many goods were reported being cleared in the name of Mutharika and involved in bootleg deals with Asian business persons such as Farook Gani of Victoria Hotel and Victoria Pharmaceticals.

In the initial transaction in November 2018, the President bought 20 000 metric tonnes (MT) or 200 000 bags of cement worth $2 240 000 (about K1.68 billion) from PTC Zimbabwe Limited duty-free. In the second transaction. in July 2019, Mutharika bought the same quantity from Prestige Export based at Chipata in Zambia.

In a letter responding to the State Residences request, dated November 28 2018, MRA deputy commissioner of technical customs and excise Abigail Kamwamba approved the transaction and advised that the cement should be allowed into the country from previously Lilongwe Port to Dedza and Mchinji.

The arrest of Mbilizi comes after President Lazarus Chakwera has already named her “provisional” replacement in tax lawyer Henry Ngutwa responsible for revenue.

The President has also appointed  John Bizwick as MRA Commissioner General and Agness Katsonga as deputy  responsible for administration.

The appointments are subject to approval by a MRA board.

Chakwera said the appointments are only made to  function in an acting capacity “until the Board is reconstituted and in place to make permanent appointments.”

Said the President: “I have made these provisional appointments to stop the free-for-all pilferage of taxes and the destruction of evidence that have been taking place there in the last few weeks, crimes which need to be stopped as a matter of urgency.”

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34 replies on “Crackdown on looters: Malawi police arrest MRA’s Roza Mbilizi”

  1. Even if sent to prison her and brothers have bought houses and built flats which in any case cannot be grabbed by govt of the day,this is her property.

  2. Please prosecute the Indian businessmen as well.
    Doctor Hadtings Banda always said the Indians are termites eating the country away. So far none of these Indian thieves have been prosecuted and put behind bars.

    1. Good point.Lots of Asians-specifically-Indians, Pakistanis, Chinese and some Burundians have grabbed traditional land through dubious and corrupt means.Arrest them and throw away keys before borders re-open.On top of that arrest dangerous people like Ben Phiri and Vuwa Kaunda for conniving with them

  6. Rosa Mbilizi (nee Fachi) was untouchable at MRA because of her close ties with Gertrude. She thought she was above the law. Being arrogant has been her life style from her school days.

  7. WELL DONE TONSE ALLIANCE..
    THIS PEOPLE ARE HOLDING ALOT OF TAX PAYERS MONEY AND THEY HAVE BECOME BILLIONS WHILE THE TAXPAYERS ARE DYING IN THE HOSPITALS BECAUSE THEY IS NO MEDICINES

  9. The law has to take its course, to deter the would be offenders. Clear the robble, for our better Malawi

  12. That’s why DPP said they were a system. They put cadets to head all importance departments so they can loot without being questioned. Shame. It’s not all lost but government must move swiftly and detain all the big fishes suspected of corruption. Public school land has been sold to some individuals before. Dubious government procurement deals that raised eyebrows. All the “gate” scandals need to be dealt with not just wasting resources arresting some poor folk for stealing a single chicken. It’s time clean up the system.

  14. Now I believe all politicians are the same no voting for these fool again Chilima is way better

    2. @china you are lying! You have always been casting Chilima in all your posts and now because he has started working suddenly you change from your cadetism and touting Chilima.

      We are busy clearing the rubble including you!!

  15. Hhahahaha apa ndiye malawi watsopanodi ndiye poti bambo anu ali kumangochi muwayitanetu kuti akakutengeleni chiletso kuti asakumangeni kkkkkkkk apo mukangonyodzera ndithu mutha nonse , komaso che Dausi mukonzekesotu paja nanu munawotcha office ya MEC mu 2014 ndiye sikuti tayiwala ayi

  16. I hope those arrested will be brought before courts soon and face justice. We don’t want cases dragging like cashgates cases. Dont rush with excitement it will appear political and eventually you will grant a vote of sympathy to the suspects. Justice should take its course.

  17. Kuli gofu ku nchalo this weekend and mayiwa akufunikila as our stander.

    1. Ife kumangodabwa golf amzathu. Ife kumangoti tizasewera liti golf. Blah blah blah shame. Seek yea the kingdom of God first and these shall be added unto you. Amen.

  21. John Bizwick was fired by APM because he refused to clear goods duty free, which goods purportedly belonged to APM but were in fact meant for other purposes and not “for personal use”

    Tiye nawo, John. Usawamvera chisoni. 🔪

  22. koma zose za presdent kulowa ulele 400 bags cement ulele. kutikololatu. ena kulowetsa ka iron koma kulipilitsidwa 2 olo 3times ntengo ogulila.
    no wonder staff at MRA were and have dumbly enriched themselves. kubaso pompo. koma nde tinabeledwa heavy.
    kammai kamwano kaja MRS CHIPHIKA pa KIA eee amaziva shuga final akukushainila if you go to collect goods. MRA CHIPHIKA MRS CHIPHIKA

  23. Don’t forget the finance director. He should be arrested as well. Infact all commissioners deserve the same. We know it was team work to loot.
    We need knew commissioners there . Most of them have overstayed .
    Ku legal kulinso cadet. Ndalama kuthera azimayi.

  25. Chouluka chili chonse chimatera ndithu. These heartless people should indeed face the law.

    1. Koma this Mbilizi woman was overdoing it. What kind of nonsense is this. Kuba kwamtundu wanji uku

      1. She is not the only looter at MRA. And these are the self proclaimed christians, maybe amai amvano even. Window dressing.

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