Ex-Malawi president Joyce Banda reaction to Lutepo’s cashgate claims: Full text
The former President of the Republic of Malawi, Her Excellency Dr. Joyce Banda, wishes to categorically deny allegations, in their totality, made by Mr. Oswald Lutepo that while she was Head of State, Dr. Banda was the “main beneficiary” of the money Mr. Lutepo allegedly stole from Government.
Mr. Lutepo claims, in an interview aired on Zodiak Broadcasting Station on Friday, November 21, 2014, that he was only but a conduit in the whole cashgate scandal.
The former Head of State would like to state, in no uncertain terms, that Mr. Lutepo’s allegations are false, malicious, defamatory and a calculated attempt by some desperate quarters to implicate herin the ‘cashgate’ scandal.
Her Excellency Dr. Joyce Banda is fully aware that issues of theft of public money (cashgate) are presently in court and it is unacceptable, under the law, to comment on such matters.
However, considering the gravity of allegations made by Mr. Lutepo, the former Head of State is left with no choice but to set the record straight, for posterity.
Mr. Lutepo’s allegations come fast on the heels of the Forensic Audit by UK’s Baker Tilly on cashgate. Her Excellency Dr. Joyce Banda’s name does not appear anywhere in the report contrary to the expectations of some quarters alluded to above. Mr. Lutepo’s name appears prominently in that report hence his present indictment.
Her Excellency Dr. Joyce Banda is aware that in the absence of her name in the Forensic Audit Report, her political detractors are using Mr. Lutepo as a pawn to drag her in the mud in order to dent her reputation as a citizen of Malawi, wife, mother, politician and philanthropist.
It is widely reported in the media, including on Nyasa Times, that Mr. Lutepo has been under pressure to implicate Her Excellency Dr. Joyce Banda in exchange for his own freedom or failing which his wife and daughter would be arrested on related charges.
Her Excellency Dr. Joyce Banda has in possession of written confessions by other cashgate suspects that some state agents have been pressurizing them to implicate Her Excellency Dr. Joyce Banda. These written confessions would be made public at an appropriate time.
Mr. Lutepo’s allegations smell fishy, especially coming at a time when there is growing discontentment among Malawians following the deteriorating economic situation. Calls for the return to Malawi of the former Head of State have grown louder and some quarters seem to be panicking hence the demonization campaign against her.
The former Head of State would like to appeal to her People’s Party (PP) supporters, her family, relatives and friends to remain calm in the light of the on-going political witch-hunt and machinations. Her Excellency Dr. Joyce Banda remains resolute as a servant of the people, particularly the marginalized and disadvantaged.
The former President would like to encourage all Malawians and the country’s leadership to concentrate more on dealing with the worsening political, social and economic situation than listening to a cashgate suspect who has so far proved to be unreliable, untrustworthy and susceptible to manipulation. The nation is aware that apart from the cashagte charges, Mr. Lutepo is also answering other charges bordering on telling lies.
Indeed, instead of focusing on extorting information from Mr. Lutepo and others, authorities must also focus on getting to the root of other financial scandals, such as the much-touted MK92 billion scam, which have had a negative impact on the national economy.
The former President would like to reiterate that she has at no time during her tenure as Head of State, or indeed at any other time, been involved in cashgate. In fact, during her reign, she dedicated her efforts to ensuring that all people involved in the plunder of public resources face the law.
While she was Head of State, Dr. Joyce Banda contributed immensely to the positive improvement of the social, economic and political order in this country. Malawians are well aware of her achievements during her two-year reign, which included reliable electricity and water supply, sufficient food for citizens, sufficient fuel and forex,improved rural housing, successful Farm Input Subsidy Programme (FISP), fertilizer loan scheme, respect of freedom of speech and press.
There was, during Her Excellency’s tenure, an unprecedented economic growth in Malawi. Her Excellency Dr. Joyce Banda believes that the only way out of the current economic political quagmire is for the present administration to reach out to other leaders, including her, to explore common spaces and find workable solutions for sustainable economic, social and political development. Political witch-hunting will only serve to exacerbate the already hostile environment.
The former Head of State, Her Excellency Dr. Joyce Banda is, meanwhile, consulting her legal advisors to determine the way forward.
- Tusekele Mwanyongo, Media Liason Officer for Joyce Banda.
Amayi ananena kale kuti Odi uko amayi aduse osawapingapinga mukapitiliza mizimu(Amazozi)akuzuzani musowa mtendele mukulimbana ndi muthu amene wanthandiza athu ochuluka ziko muno muzingoyendesa boma lanu lobela tikanafuna tikanakusiyani kuja chifukwa munabela zikolino limayenda bwino pamene amalamula amayi mu chipani cha PP,Osamawapaka manyi Amayi .Yao culture heritage arts Bornface awali!
Mrs. Joyce. Banda. Don’t say anything. Wait and see which way the cat jumps.
mukulimbana ndi mayi mavuto anu ndichani osapanga zinthu zoti zikuthandizeni
We understand that of late anything that comes out of Lutepo’s mouth can’t be taken seriously since he has been changing statements like underwear,however,
that does not mean his testimony is going to be ignored completely because there’s (call logs)(CCCtv footage to assent to ,hence don’t get too comfortable
I for one as a citizen of this country, I am certain there’s no way Mr Lutepo could manage to siphon such huge amount of taxpayers money single-handedly without big fish’s involvement
A x presdent asafulumile kuyakha iwo sanaitanidwe kukhothi,asiye omwe ukufunsidwa aziyankhula adya mulumila thawi yawo ikwana azalongosola bwino.
Tisaopsezanepo apa
Kodi inu bwanji mukulimbana ndi munthu wa mayi? Mulibe chochita eti?. akanakhala kuti JB alibe ndalama kodi nanchidwe wanu uja Bingu akanamusankha kukhala his running mate? Kodi inu kunalibe? Bwanji amaleka kusankha bwampini wanuyi? Zopusa eti. Mumuuze Atupeleyo kumene aliko kuti makobiri aja mthumbamu mudakalibe!!!!! Komanso madzi mu mpope sakutuluka. Osati zanu zopusazo mxiew!!!!!!
She should have consulted her legal advisors before exposing herself in this way.
Mai Banda must explain something about cashgate, where did she get all the riches within 2 years? As usual she is busy building her international reputation at the expense of Malawian. JB come home and lets build our country osamangodya ndalama kunjako
Lamulo lisatidwepo apa and atolankhani you are not judges pliz zisiyeni mmanja mwa court zogamulazo