HRDC says Mutharika must be held to account on K5bn cement saga
Human Rights Defenders Coalition (HRDC) has asked government to hold former president Peter Mutharika on the importation of cement worth over K5 billion from Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Mutharika on Friday issued a statement through his personal secretary Linda Salanjira that affirmed that the immediate former president was not aware of any cement deals during his tenure.
In the statement, Mutharika seems to suggest being a victim of identity fraud in the scandal in which his personal bodyguard Norman Chisale was arrested and charged for.
Chisale is alleged to have a hand in the importation of K5 billion worth of cement allegedly using Mutharika duty-free status accorded to sitting presidents.
But a statement issued by HRDC chairperson Gift Trapence said the coalition finds the cement transactions to be a clear case of abuse of entitlement.
“HRDC has read and noted with great shock and surprise a statement released by former president Peter Mutharika distancing himself from an apparent case of abuse of his own privileges.
“As HRDC, we know that Mutharika imported about 4000 00 bags of cement worth K3.2 billion duty free from Zambia and Zimbabwe between 2018 and 2019. The President and Malawi Revenue Authority (MRA) justified the transaction as within the law,” reads the statement in part.
Mutharika’s former press secretary Mgeme Kalilani is on record to have defended the cement importation issue, arguing that under Customs Procedure Code 418 of the Customs and Excise Tariff, the President is allowed to import goods duty-free.
Kalilani said he stands by that assertion.
HRDC’s Trapence said Kalilani’s stance was an official acceptance by Mutharika that “he understands and acknowledges the importation transactions of cement from abroad and that transactions were within the law as stipulated.”
Trapence said HRDC are therefore shocked and surprised with Mutharika’s statement feigning ignorance of MRA approval of clearance of duty-free cement using his taxpayer identification number (TPIN) without his consent.
He said Mutharika is alleging that “somebody hacked his TPIN and used it to import duty free cement from Zambia and Zimbabwe.”
Said Trapence: “As HRDC, we reject Mutharika’s statement because we find it as a futile attempt to divert the public from matters he was in control of.”
Apart from Chisale, Fiscal also arrested businessperson Shaffe Chunara, owner of Prestige Imports and Exports and MRA former deputy director general Roza Mbilizi in connection with the controversial K5 billion duty-free cement saga.
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Former president has to answer himself. Let’s not beat the bush here we way to see justice final. Peter must be questioned.
nkhalamba is playing a dumb victim card, just ask his accountant, he files all the paper work when he signs them doesnt he read them?
Zowona bwana Trapence ngati dzana amanenakuti ndizolondola malamulo, lero asanene kuti sakudziwapo kanthu. Anthu aulesi osafuna kumanga dziko motsata malamulo mumvetsetse kuti khrismasi yatha. Yambitsani ma business enieni tumizani ana anu kusukulu apo ayi adzavutika. Malawi wasintha.
Iwe Trapence, if it was for my religion, nkanakutukwana. Iwetu ndiwe wa chipaani, osati HRDC ukubisalirai ayi. Ndiwe opusa kwambiri.
Straight up how I hate this guy
Thats nosense. Chonara should be asked topay duty on the imports and fine imposed . Case closed.
Nkhalamba needs to be locked up, and soon.
Kod Jois Bhand ngat idalepher dpp kumumang ndiyvakamangidwe lelo ? ky walakwa chiyan mukumbuk alikunj A dppamat akangofik amangidw kom atafik adamulanga? Ndiy muzit Jois B walakwanj
What the fuck is this?????? I can’t read the stuff!
HRDC also do your work on JB.
Peter ndi mbava nanunso inu!
Can you prove JB was directly involved in stealing? Jet was just an unnecessary cost to an impoverished country like Malawi. Pomwe mbava Peter PI bank deposit into his account. Now izi tsopano akuwakanila mbava zinzake. Isn’t it an admission of guilt? He was the one appointing these thieves in positions of influence. Mchacha angakhale nduna? Umbava basi!!!
Prove that Peter Mutharika was directly involved i corruption. FOTSEKI.
Slay-young-Man,
what type of proof do you need here, dont you know that 145 million was sent to his accunt as kickbacks for corruption, the 5 billion cement whic was in public domain defending such theft as part of his entitlement shameless thug
Osalankhula zoti simukuzidziwa. Do you know how much that plane was sold? Do you how the proceeds from that plane were used? If we want to clear the mess or rubble as chakwera puts it, then lets not have sacred cows. JB has to face the law too.
Thank you. If we Malawians as a nation realise that whether leaders are in office or out of office every single Kwacha that they loot or looted belongs to us, and We make our leaders accountable we will wipe out poverty in our country.
HRDC is irrelevant this time.
more than irrelevant and very stupid, zitsiru zimenezi pamapeto mumva zalowa chipani
Muona nyekhwe… Mutukwana mutopa koma pitala alowabe basi. Mufune, musafune….