Joyce Banda says Malawi needs cleansing: Denies Cashgate involvement, claims Interpol clearance
Former president Joyce Banda, who returned in the country last Saturday after four-years absecce, has reiterated her stand that she does not know anything to do with Cashgate, the plunder of public resources at Capital Hill, exposed under her watch in 2013 and challenged law enforcers to arrest her.
Addressing a political rally for her People’s Party (PP) in her home area of Domasi in Zomba on Sunday, Banda said the issue has been repeatedly spoken about and that she has made it clear that she played no role.
Banda said while she was in power, upon being alerted that money was being stolen in government, she publicly announced she would crack down on all thieves
“I invited opposition leaders, the clergy and civil society leaders to brief them that some unscrupulous government officials were conniving with some private businessmen to steal public funds in what later became to be known as cashgate scandal,” she said,
Later, with the help of the British government, she instituted a forensic audit, which was carried by the British-based RSM (formerly known as Baker Tilly) audit firm.
“ Following the audit, many people, including top public officers, were arrested, prosecuted and convicted in connection with cashgate,” she said.
Bansa said nowhere in the report her name was mentioned to have been part of the plunder of government money.
This, she said is confirmed by Anti Corrpution Bureau (ACB) which recently announced that after thorough investigation, they had not found any evidence linking JB to cashgate.
Banda said all talk about arrest and whatever has been mere political ploy to scare her away so that she should not return to Malawi to contribute to the political, social and economic development of the country.
She said she also has an Interpol certificate, which clears her of any wrongdoing and therefore on wanted list.
“I just heard that there was a [Malawi] police press release which said I am on Interpor list but I have a certificate from Interpol. When I left there was nobody accusing me of anything. I just went toi UN [United Nations]General Assembly.
“I assure you that I was not involved and I am the one who made the arrests and conducted the forensic audit and the report is public document,” she said
The former president challenged the law enforcers at arrest her if she has any case, saying her conscious is clear and has no any wrong doing.
“I am telling you this because I know you were worried about me. What you should know is that I am not scared. If they want, they should come and arrest me. But I am clean. If people are stealing from the people that I love they should go to prison,” she said.
Banda thanked PP executive committee members and all members of the party for preserving the party while she was away
In her speech to hundreds of supporters, Banda bemoaned the sorry state of the economy and said with unity of purpose, the tribulations would go away
She said “Malawi needs special prayers” to deal with the prevailing political, social and economic woes, asking the clergy’s indulgence.
The former president said she had been “bruised and smeared” by the allegations of Cashgate, but would not be deterred.
She has always argued that that prior to Cashgate, the K236 billion theft happened between 2009 and 2012 when former president the late Bingu Wa Mutharika was in charge, alleging that there must be a stubborn link between the K236 billion scam and Cashgate.
Banda’s sudden elevation in 2012 occurred in the bewildering 48 hours that followed the collapse of the former president, Bingu wa Mutharika, in April. As vice-president, she found herself facing down the “midnight six”, the cabinet ministers determined to keep her out of State House in favour of Mutharika’s brother, Peter, the foreign minister.
Speaking earlier PP secretary general Ibrahiom Matola announced the party would be holding a National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting soon to map out the party’s way forward
Member of Parliament for Zomba Malosa and PP vice president for eastern region Roy Banda, son to the former president, said leaders who left the party are being paraded at other political parties’ rallies as ‘dolls’
He said the party belongs to the people and not a few misguided and selfish leaders.
Follow and Subscribe Nyasa TV :
Joice Banda,if you really love your country,why did you leave clandestinely? Do you believe that where there is smoke,there is fire? The way how you left the country,anybody with intelligent brains,conclude that you are concealing something which one-day,will come into open.Cleansing is done to people like you okay?
What about our JET?
Facts:
1. You received 25 vehicles from Lutepo who is now in jail.
2. You said a beneficiary of stolen things is not guilty
3. You said you knew who attempted to kill Mphwiyo
4. You said Mphwiyo was fighting corruption
5. You failed to conclude Chasowa issue in 2 years
6. You failed to enact law to make MBC independent yet you repealed other oppressive laws
7. You said DPP stole a lot of money during Bingu yet you maintained Ken Lipenga as finance minister
Are you an ethical leader?
Cleaning will start with you JB..those advising you to stand again next year’s elections are but greedy,wants to eat your moneys.you can’t win the elections..game ya 219 is too big for you..u had your tome and failed that’s enough..komanso mwabwera ndi phuma Mai dekhani kae…..
JB is here now. Let ACB prove that she was involved in cashgate period. We dont have to be wasting time here.
No one is saying she stole money but people around her did loot copies amounts of dollars. This was under her rule therefore she should be held accountable. It may be difficult that she was also involved, but ACB can certainly prove that she was complicit by virtue of being the president of the country. That’s what people are saying.
Abale –boma silichepa–. Anthutu amadwala BP akangolowa.
It’s you who should be cleansed from what you stole
All that is required is justice. If JB was not involved in the looting she has nothing to worry about. As a matter of fact it is strange that she went on a self imposed exile. What was she fearing? Welcome back home. You are a Malawian. Enjoy Therere and Bonongwe which you missed so much. You are even free to stand for the Presidency again – as long as no evidence is produced against you.
The fact that castigate happened under yiur watch is enough evidence of yiur lack of leadership of one of the most important position in the country. Worse still, if you don’t understand the cashgate implication on your capacity to lead, then we have a major problem. You didn’t have to benefit directly madam to have been compromised. If I were you, I would have retired otherwise you do have a case to answer, so does Bingu (bless his soul), Peter and his cronies who are supposed to be protectors of our hard earned meagre resources.
The fact that she did something about it is good enough to prove she was agood leader. Ena siawa akungogawana ndalama za boma but doing nothing to correct the situation
JB ,YOU ARE VERY STUPID, DONT WASTE OUR TIME. ITS TOO EARLY FOR YOU TO DEFEND YOURSELF. KASAMBARA MENTIONED YOUR NAME. HE IS NOT READ. YOU WILL MEET HIM ONE DAY IN COURT.
THE BATTLE IS NOW ON BETWEEN YOU AND KASAMBARA.
JB ZIKAYAMBIKA UZALAKALAKA UTATHAWA BUT IT WILL BE TOO LATE BECAUSE YOUR TRAVEL DOCUMENTS WILL BE WITHDRAWN
YOU REFUGE AND IDIOT STOP MAKING NOISE SOON YOUR CASE WILL GO TO COURT
Inu a chitipa boy, ndinu auakali kwambiri eti??? do you have evidence that JB was involved in cashgate? Why calling her stupid yet she is saying what is on the ground. Inu ndi bungwe lofufuza la kunja plus ACB, whi is competent? Sometimes it is better to just shut your mouth if you dont have something sensible to say. Osamangolubwalubwa mwamva?????