Macra is Malawi’s ‘corrupt swamp’: It’s stinking of more rot
Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (Macra) board met in Lilongwe last week as the graft busting body Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) camped at Macra headquarters to get to the bottom of stinking corruption at the regulatory body.
ACB investigators stormed Macra Finance department from digging into dubious procurement deals worthy millions of Malawi kwacha after it recent;y opened investigations into two multi-million kwacha contracts the regulator is alleged to have dubiously awarded last year.
The contracts in question include a K19 million supply contract Macra reportedly awarded to a business firm owned by a relation to an executive manager and another relating to printing of calendars worth K135 million.
The bureau’s senior public relations officer Egrita Ndala demanded a written questionnaire when asked why the ACB went back to interrogate procurement specialist Joseph Ngalawa over the K135 million calendars deal, Color Television Sets, Computers and color printers, CarTrack deals.
She said said investigations were still in progress.
The board called for a meeting after a forensic audit at the regulatory authority unveiled more dirt pertaining to abuse of a fuel card scam in which millions of kwachas were encashed from Nyambadwe Puma filling Station by top Macra Administration officials.
Board Chair Rev. Alex Maulana confirmed the board met in Lilongwe, ” but there was nothing secret about it.”
Maulana who is alleged to have directly financially benefitted from the rampant and stinking corruption at Macra, refused to comment on fevered specualtion about President Peter Mutharika, annoyed with corrupt dealings at Macra to deal with the findings decisively.
At the center of corruption is Director General Godfrey Itaye whose contract at the regulatory board expired mid August but he is maneuvering through the board and a powerful Cabinet minister to have it renewed.
Itaye has disputed social media posts by activist Rafiq Hajat that government had decided not to renew his contract, telling local media “there is no grain of truth whatsoever”.
Sources from the secret board meeting said the majority of the members have disagreed to renew Itayes contract with some members threatening to resign over the rampant corruption.
The graft-busting body launched its investigations early in February this year after receiving a complaint from a whistle blower on the alleged dealings.
Macra director general Itaye refuses to grant interview to Nyasa Times because it exposes corrupt dealings at the regulator.
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Koma a DPP akazawina pa 19 May ndalama azayesa kugawanilana pa Tv kuti a Malawi amve kuwawa
Ka chilima nkabodza. Angoni mwauponda. kalista wakugwiritsani fuwa lamoto.
I have said it before and will say it again. Why do the so-called men of God chair Boards of corrupt organizations such as MACRA, where stealing of public resources is the order of the day? How do such people reconcile their daily lives with the evils highlighted above? The same goes for Rev Gunya of taxpayers’ squanderer MBC and Bishop Bvumbwe of the super rich MERA? Have these people morals at all?
MBAVAAA AAAAAAAAAA ITAYE UYOOOOO
WAKUBAYOOOOOOOOOO
WAKUBAYOOOOOOOOOO
WAKUBAYOOOOOOOOOO
MMUTAYE ku MAULA AMEYOOOOOOOOOOOO
Come on ACB….how much more proof or evidence do you need to lock this crook and his associates up in the cell. At least prove that you guys too are not infested. What a pity. Malawi is in a state of collapse economically. Our Govt System is totally failed system. Anybody in the system with blue links are stealing at will. Its like free for all looting spree. At least churches should wake up thier faithfuls. It is a sin to support or watch crime or sinister acts at the expense of poor innocent citizens. “A MALAWI TA DZUKANI “
it is high time that Malawians face the truth. Looting has become so entrenched in our day today lives so much so that nothing shocks us anymore. Everyday we read, hear or come across looting at a very large scale and no one is held or takes accountability. We are now officially a criminal state with no visible leadership. We are deluding ourselves that we have a leader but in effect the train is moving on its own and will only come to a halt when all its moving parts are stolen by those onboard. I am sure by now… Read more »
Bang on dude. Imagine this itaye guy has been robbing and stealing ever since he became DG and yet bwana is totally ignorant. So it only proves they are all part of the blue team of mbavas and there is nothing anyone wishes to do anything about it. Currently MW is TOTALLY infested with blue termites. AND OUR CONSTITUTION is so much flawed which has become a stealing tool for blue mbavas.
If Itayes contract expired last month why then is he still performing duties as MACRA CEO??????? How is MACRA going to pay him when his contract expired???? Nde pano aliku Turkey with the IT Manager Jailosi Ngati CEO and yet Maulana the Boardchairperson ali ndwiiiiiiii! No wonder it is alleged in the story Kuti Maulana has benefited on the looting.
DPP will pay heavily in 2019
Make them pay now. This is the problem with us malawians….. all we do is talk and no damn action. We wait 5 years in suffering n then wait for ballots. Come elections, these thieves will AGAIN steal n rig the voting system and they come again for 5 years n we again just wait n watch. Are you telling me that the citizenery cannot kick these thieving mbavas out once and for all. Shame on us really. By not reacting we just encouraging these mbavas to steal more. Thieves like this DG of macra has been stealing from macra… Read more »
kikikiki a itaye muli bwanji? ife kuno tili bwino eeeee. ndi mzako ngalawa
Apparently Itaye paid some Board members to influence their decision on his contract. Total abuse of public funds.