DPP’s Makondi sues Times for libel on ACB complaint: Malawi corrupt gangsters trying to intimidate media through lawsuits 

Malawi’s ruling Democrtaic Progressive Party (DPP) national organising secretary Richard Makondi  has  filed a libel lawsuit against Times Group over a report published in Malawi News on his  suspected roles in Cashgate—the plunder of public resources at Capital Hill exposed in September 2013 alongside businessperson Mohammad Kassam.

Makondi:  Said to be shielded by ACB boss Lucas Kondowe and sues newspaper
Makondi: Said to be shielded by ACB boss Lucas Kondowe and sues newspaper

Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) investigated Kossam, Makondi—a former Toyota Malawi national sales manager—alongside former MDF Commander General Henry Odillo (retired), Lieutenant General Clement Kafuwa (retired) and former Ministry of Finance budget director Paul Mphwiyo on their involvement in a deal where MDF bought about 35 vehicles from Toyota Malawi worth K895 million which the bureau claims were overvalued and did not have specifications agreed in the contract.

And Malawi News reported that Makondi has since been named as one of the people  who exerted pressure on the Electricity and Supply Commission of Malawi (Escom)’s former Director of Finance Betty Mahuka for her to authorize MK4 billion payment towards fraudulent procurement.

According to to the national weekly, Mahuka prior to her resignation, received calls from Escom’s board and Makondi ordering her to pay.

But Mahuka refused the order and instead tendered her resignation which prompted ACB to authorize the investigation on September 28, this year.

Ironically, last month, Escom blocked the bureau’s officer from conducting an investigation into the procurement in question.

Following the Malawi News report, Makondi through his lawyers Joe and Max Chambers has filled a  libel suit against Times Group for alleged defamation of character.

He is seeking compensation claiming “damages for libel and lose of business and business opportunities.”

Times Group could not immediately confirm nor comment on the receipt of the lawsuit.

However, a governance expert said the story Makondi is suing the newspaper for  is about a report on the complaint ACB is probing or rather stopped probing by its director Lucas Kondowe despite his deputy and prosecutor Reyneck Matemba giving a go ahead.

Makondi has a warrant of arrest on his head which Kondowe again stopped execution.

“This is a scenario where corrupt people are trying to intimidate the media through lawsuits,” a governance expert told Nyasa Times.

He added: “Malawians should know that corruption has taken over this country and those behind it will do all they can to get away with it. This is just another highly corrupt man using money and lawsuits to silence media so it stops reporting on his corrupt activities.”

ACB’s director,  Kondowe has a strong relationship with Makondi. That explains, say many Malawians, why Makondi has not been prosecuted over an alleged fraud in 2013 involving a prominent businessman,  Kassam, in a K895 mn. ($1.2 mn.) deal to supply 35 Toyota vehicles to the Malawi Defence Force.

Its former Commander, General Henry Odillo, and his deputy Clement Kafuwa were arrested over the deal in May last year but Kassam and Makondi have not been touched .

In March, a magistrate granted the ACB an arrest warrant for Makondi and Kassam, owner of Globe Electronics but the warrants were never enforced.

Insiders say Kondowe is responsible.

Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace (CCJP) national secretary Martin Chiphwanya said recent events at the bureau, such as reports of blocking warrants of arrest and fears of political interference, have led to lack of confidence in its operations.

“We have a bureau widely seen as ineffective but also unfairly using its powers. The recent allegations and reports against the leadership of the bureau have in particular been more damaging,” said Chiphwanya.

The President of the Malawi Law Society, John Suzi Banda, said the ACB’s ‘operational independence has been fatally compromised’.

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Banda would be thief
Banda would be thief
7 years ago

This is great Makondi will now face a judge to prove the alleged incident did not take place, considering a warrant was issued at the request of ACB. Good Luck, his fight is with the ACB not the Times the people reporting the news that has been going on since 2013,

Times continue to report government corruption stories on the front page, soon the politians will be more honest and less greedy.

bengo
bengo
7 years ago

,,,,,Banda would be a thief,,,,,,,,,, are you here in Malawi,? I guess no, there has been so many for this bambo anthu amati anali bwana ku Toyota Malawi, Why not Rosemary The big boss, it means he is a thief mind you ngat mumadya limodzi kapena mumanyegera dzina la Makondi time up find another strategy.

Chimbilima
7 years ago

ACB, mumangeni munthuyu chonde kkkkkkk Tatopa nazo za katangale inu aaaaaaaaaa!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

bwititi
bwititi
7 years ago

We will see who tells the truth in national corruption issues between government being represented by Makondi and the private media being represented by Group of Times. More fire.Please NAMISA advise your babies piv to stop crying and stand in court with your help I hope. NAMISA will learn whelther these useless journos are really professionals or unprofessional and unethical as government claims.We will see who tells the truth in national corruption issues between government being represented by Makondi and the private media being represented by Group of Times. More fire.Please NAMISA advise your babies piv to stop crying and… Read more »

bwamnoni
bwamnoni
7 years ago

We will see who tells the truth between private media and those in government.

gototo
gototo
7 years ago

Please, Group of times meet the member of DPP for to clear yourself on source of information you give Malawians.

Gama
Gama
7 years ago

Time is ticking slowly but surely for all thieves in DPP to face the music. You can run but you can not hide. We are tired of you thieves. No development but corruption. Very soon the very same public you are swindling their taxes will laugh at you while you and your clueless old idiot APM will be languishing in jail. Basi what you know is kuba. Tangatukuke bwanji with this spirit. DPP please please slow down. Dziko ndilosauka ili. You are milking a thin cow. Very soon it will release blood for having no milk at all.

Mustard, S.
Mustard, S.
7 years ago

Any court case has two parties, a defendant and a plaitiff. In this case Times is a defendant with Makondi as a plaintiff. If I were you guys who are comment trashes here I would be happy. I would say let these mafias meet in court. Times should assemble all its artillaries for the battle. Group of Times has been give a podium to prove a point. This is something good beyond only ‘naming and shaming’.Group of Times go head on to clear yourself. Even the members of private media should team to get a point. Dont cry Group of… Read more »

NURSES
NURSES
7 years ago

M’bale wake anadyaso za social welfare kuno Trinity kugula bakha wake ractis ndi zakuntundu

WANDALE
WANDALE
7 years ago

Why can government if its true that these people are not thieves approach this giant company INSTITUTE OF INTERNAL AUDITORS MALAWI timamva kuti siyaboma ife komaso ili ndi ma fraud investigators odziwa ntchito zao,,,,,,,,,, koma Nation Audit yomwe ndi boma lomwe chomwe imatha ndikusata ma votes accountant general ikagawa,,,,,, DPP ku prison 2019!!!!!!!!!!!! BUSHIRI boMAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

njonjo
njonjo
7 years ago

That lawsuit is just a ploy kuti achedwetse milandu ndikumangidwa, we know this person very well, ndi mbava komaso he was a person who don’t know his job @Toyota. May you please arrest this person asamasangalalire anthu mzipatala akuvutika ndiwa pa mpamba pompa mbavayi mukakanika tionana 2019 akukalowa basi,,,,,, DPP Amakondiwa angotchokapo zazi ngat ndi anthu ,,,,,,,,,, mumuoneso bwino za chasowa coz mu mpembamu watchuka ndi zomwezo

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