DPP gurus want Muhara back at Malawi Revenue Authority: Masangwi championing move

Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) gurus are pressurizing President Peter Mutharika to remove Malawi Revenue Authority (MRA) Commissioner General Ralphael Kamoto and replace him with former Commissioner General now High Court Judge Lloyd Muhara.

Impeccable sources confided to Nyasa Times that beleaguered businessman and DPP MP Noel Masangwi is the one who is in the fore front of pushing Kamoto’s exit and has brought in some big gurus from ethnic grouping Mulhakho wa Ahlomwe to strengthen their case.

Masangwi caused  controversy at MRA after he was assisted corruplty for his export banned round wood to China worth millions of Malawi Kwacha.

Another source from Capital Hill colloborated the story saying Secretary to the Treasury Ronald Mangani was instructed to find a replacement for Kamoto but declined to do so.

Masangwi and his Mulhako group is said to have sent a message to President Mutharika warning him of risking the support of the grouping if he were to maintain Kamoto.

“Masangwi and company are proposing the name of Muhara to have a second go at MRA because he is one of them and easily to manipulate,” said the source.

As a result of the development, President Mutharika has summoned the MRA Board of Directors headed by Evelyn Mwapasa to a meeting this coming Friday at Sanjika Palace in Blantyre to discuss the issues.

Most members of the Mulhako wa Alhomwe feel ‘insulted’ by cracking down of Masangwi who is touted as being the ‘untouchable’ as long as MRA issues are concerned.

Kamoto has also come hard on Asians of Malawian origins for tax evasion cases. Most of the Indian businessmen dine and wine with top government officials including the President and are the top “well-wishers” of the DPP as well as the Head of State.

In an earlier report, Nyasa Times investigations revealed that MRA is chasing after more than K22 billion in unpaid taxes from Indian businessmen through the courts.