DPP hits back at JB on linking Bingu to K577bn cashgate

Ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) has described as unfortunate and uncalled for former president Joyce Banda claims that former head of state Bingu wa Mutharika and his party are allegedly linked to plunder of K577 billion of public resources between 2009 and 2015.

DPP spokesperson Francis Kasaira said his party has no connections to the alleged looting of public money, saying Banda served as State vice president at that time and she could have blown the whistle.

“She should be reflecting on how she lost the elections, miserably, coming third,” said Kasaila, a senior cabinet minister in the Peter Mutharika administration.

Banda has issued a media statement suggesting that Triza Namathanga Senzani, a former principal secretary now serving a three year jail term for plundering public money was sent by the government to implicate the former president in the scandal for political gains.

The former president claims she has information that the government wants to use people to implicate her, saying Malawians are better judges.

Banda left Malawi soon after losing the elections to Peter Mutharika and her name has come out in some cashgate cases including that of convict Oswald Lutepo and another convict Leonard Kalonga.

Kasaila said Banda is merely venting her anger with Bingu for leaving her out as a DPP presidential candidate for the 2014 general election and her subsquent booting out from the party.

Other legal minds have been asking Banda to come back home from the self imposed exile to defend herself in a court of law but law professor Edge Kanyongolo says the state has not yet laid charges against her therefore she cannot be called in court.

Kanyongolo said the only way to clear her name is through press statements until the state drags her to court.

Justice Minister Samuel Tembenu said the cashgate cases are now going into the last phase involving politicians.