Malawi Churches in unholy spotlight: K6m cashgate of Norwegian Church Aid

Malawi Council of Churches (MCC),  a coalition of 25 church groups, has found itself in unholy spotlight with reports of K6 million ($11 009.17) looting resulting to the dismissal of its general secretary the Reverend Dr. Osborne Joda Mbewe and project manager Godfrey Mkandawire following a number of the forensic audit queries.

Bishop Gilford Matonga, an MCC board member was chosen to replace Mbewe and is doubling as acting general secretary.

According to a report  by The Nation newspaper on October 27, 2015, Mbewe and Mkandawire were fired in July this year on account of “financial irregularities” at MCC after a forensic audit, instituted by the Norwegian Church Aid , a major donor for some of the MCC projects.

Matonga said MCC is now into its recovery and healing processes and is determined to win back the trust and confidence of the donors,

“As MCC, we have fully owned up to all our blunders and we have been effecting corrective measures,” said Bishop Matonga is quoted as saying.

However, the paper reported that Mbewe has taken MCC to the Industrial Relations Court (IRC), for being “ unfairly dismissed.”

He told the publication that the issue of inter-banking and inter-borrowing of the donor funds was “deliberately blown out of proportion,” or misunderstood, because the systems were flexible, since the funds were used on related work financed by the same donor, NCA.

Mbewe feels his explanations to the forensic audit queries appeared to have been ignored, “to fulfill an agenda to dismiss me”.

Norwegian Church Aid country representative Stein Villumstad demanded that the mismanaged funds be refunded MCC and withdrew its aid.

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