Malawi economist describes  K1 trillion plunder as treasonous

July 27, 2020 Owen Khamula - Nyasa Times 35 Comments

An economic expert has described as treasonous the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) officials loot of government money which President Lazarus Chakwera put at K1.3 trillion (over $1 billion), citing the recent Auditor General’s report which looks into how the government managed its finances for the past two years.

Dr. Betchani Tchereni

Polytechnic-based economic expert Dr. Betchani Tchereni said the economic plunder during the Peter Mutharika administration was not only immoral but treasonous.

“Their aim was not only to loot but to bring down the country which is treasonous,” he said.

He said the K1.3 trillion plunder is 40 per cent of the national budget which Finance minister Felix Mlusu is to present in parliament in two months’ time.

He said the money was enough to construct health facilities, schools and help in the fight against covid-19.

Professor of Economics at Chancellor College Ben Kalua said the money was enough to put the country on its own feet without relying on donors.

President Chakwera in his address to the nation on Satruday warned people that stole public funds that should avoid seeking public sympathy but return what they stole as the law is going to take its course on them.

The President said,  among other things, the  Auditor General’s report shows that $10 million could not be accounted for, $1 million was used to pay for projects which were not completed and $400,000 was used for fuel without corresponding documents.

Chakwera said the scale of the plunder is worse than a 2013 corruption scandal known as Cash ate in which about $32 million government money was looted through dubious contracts, during the administration of former president Joyce Banda.

Since the Tonse Alliance came into power, there have been shocking revelations from some statutory corporations on how public resources were abused, in some cases allegedly involving officials of the former governing DPP.

The Anti-Corruption Bureau ACB) director general Reyneck Matemba described the plunder of public resources under the watch of DPP regime, jointly being investigated by State agents, as a ‘tsunami’ which supersedes that of Cashgate.

Follow and Subscribe Nyasa TV :
Follow us in Twitter

35 replies on “Malawi economist describes  K1 trillion plunder as treasonous”

  2. This is just a mere audit query and Chakwera made it public just to turnish DPP. I dont believe money of such magnititude can be taken without the country becoming at stand still. Chakwera is trying to create scapegoats so that he has an excuse for failing. If it is true that that money was stolen then it has nothing to do with the current fiscal years but past fiscal years. Chakwera should look at how much money has been collected now and how he will use it.

    1. Kuganiza ngati nkhukutu uku!! How long should an audit query take before it is address by responsible officers!! Chakwera openly stated that the issues are from way back 26 years ago….. should the nation keep up watching because they are mere queries? Iwenso nde waonetsa kuti ndiwe m’modzitu wa anthu akubawo and from jerusalema university!! Fotseki zako, muzisanza ndalama zimanezi muonansooooooooooooooooooooo!

      2. But in those 26 years there was joyce banda yet Chakwera was singling out DPP this should tell you that he was being political aiming at shaming DPP. As things stand this is just a mere audit query and I dont think there is any truth. Let him prosecute now.

  3. Please, know how to read audit reports. Everything is put in figures, but does not mean money is stolen. If mk 2 bn is made to purchase a car without authorising signatures does not mean 2 bn is stolen but there was no control over purchase. But you LL find all cars intact.

  4. Some dunderheads are believing these trillion figures. What was the national budget in these
    two years? Do you mean the whole annual Budgets were stolen? Pedegu ku state House wawonjezatu bodza. Komabe muchila.

  5. We need auditors also to look into Chiwengo village where did Kamuzu got that money to built the village yet Malawi was very poor. Also investigate Chakwera whose bank statement did he use to get a student visa to study in America. He was not sponsored but used somebody’s bank statement. I will expose him because I know what he did and whose bank statement he used. Wasn’t that corruption yet he was going there to study theology

  6. This is definitely treasonous. Charging them for money laundering and fraud is not good enough. They should also charged for treason as they were bringing an elected government down though illegally. The present Government should strive to recover the money no matter how expensive it will be. There is no point putting these people in prison and then when they come out to be enjoying the fruits of their plunder. Taking away their wealth will be a deterrent to future thieves.

  7. That ultra-magnificent church that Chisale built in his home village must have cost enough money to build 3 decent primary schools in my home area.

    Pakuti anthu a Mulungu amati Mulungu salandira zakuba, boma lirande kachisilo alisanduse school…📖 👉 📚

  8. Can those at Ministry of Finance and Reserve Bank please come out and clear this mist before politicians mislead the already misled nation! If indeed such a figure was stolen then it could have been in circulation and causing heavy economic turbulence. Inflation could have been skyrocketing to unimaginary levels. Likewise if the purpoted looters had invested in infrastructure, Malawi could have atleast one skyscraper but alas! Malawi is still the same like it was a decade ago. Don’t talk about such funds being externalized and invested outside because at the moment there is no system that can allow that to happen unnoticed.

  9. MUST READ ALL !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!⛔🚫⛔
    This amounts being mentioned here are just the tip of the iceberg. Actual amount of this immoral and inhumane looting by DPP is MK 3.6 Trillion (USD 5Billion) looted in past 6 years under and by APM administration. The clear motive behind this was to destroy the country economically and nothing else. The masterminds of cash gate were late bingu and Goodall gondwe by bringing in IFMIS system. Cash gate started way back in 2006 by Bingu, until 2012, bingu stole USD 1Billion in 6 years. Close to 7 Billion USD has been swindled by DPP n PP thugs n looters in span of 14 years. Bingu looted consciously, while APM looted Mercilessly and Ruthlessly, not giving any kind of moral considerations for the fellow Malawian brothers and sisters. ZERO!!! As if the other Malawian tribal people didnt exist, or as if they were not humans. This only tantamounts to Treason, putting millions of lives at risk due to gross negligence in all social welfare sectors. Country was almost in ruins, and thank God they are now kicked out, other wise we were heading towards doomsday for our beloved nation. Please tonse govt, do your audits thoroughly and you will be more shocked to see figures matching my above figures. These are crimes committed against humanity. They must tried and prosecuted at ICC level, not that am doubting our judiciary system..NO! But the chief DPP MBAVÀ N HIS WIFE N GIRLFRIEND must be tried at ICC so that sets an example for others would be govt thugs. More ROTTEN thugs to come out soon…. u can run but cant hide. WE WILL FIND U ALL!!!!

    1. Tempted to believe this command of information and English. Mwe wanthumwe, ndikomokatu. Koma zoona?Awa amafuna kupitiriza kutilamulira. Ife akumudzi sititsata zinthu. People eating MONEY.

  10. Plunder of such magnitude is indeed treasonous and perpetrators ought to be publicly hanged because they were an existential fiscal threat to the country and not the nonsense about ‘kuwukila boma chifukwa cholemba zomwe boma sizimasangalatsidwa nazo kapena kumatcha ku State House’!!!!!!!!!!!

  11. You know what, that auditor Generals report was simply about procedures laid down in pfm act. The report was not and should not be seen as concrete evidence of plundering. The report was simply advisory in nature and objective.

  12. Give me a copy of auditor Generals report and I will explain what they have written. It’s not plunder at all. You economists don’t have an idea of what an audit report is. Stop your sensationalism

  13. I don’t think this is true. I don’t think somebody will be prosecuted to the point of being convicted. This can possibly be something to do with non reconciliation of govt. accounts.

    1. The audit report that is bringing to light those, talks little about non reconciliation of accounts. Even if the books were to be cleaned and balanced, we will still be talking of Trillion Kwacha off the drain.

  14. Inasmuch as one cannot but to agree with Dr. Tchereni I have two questions:
    What is happening to the Cashgage saga and the plundering by the late Bingu and crownies
    What will be done to recover to stolen funds / assets because no one could have spent that much on parties, woemen and cars

  15. Nanu a tchereni kupupuluma. Have you asked how Chakwera dreamt of that figure? These are politicians hellbent on tarnishing the image of others. Be factual, bwana economist.

    1. Bwana Sokosi, if you have love for your country, then you should be feeling sorry for the misery these
      crooks have done to the country. Unless you are a DPP sympathizer then I can I understand as these people are heartless. The figures the President is mentioning are coming from the audit report and not that he is just dreaming or cooked up somewhere. Check with the Auditor General’s Office for the past six years DPP has been in power and see how they have plundered, from Parastatals to Government Ministries and Departments. Take ESCOM for example; how do you explain the fueling of cars for Lomwe belt kinsmen who are not employees of the organization? Isn’t that stealing? How about procurement of MCBs @ 103% above normal price, isn’t that stealing? The list is endless. These people should not just be arrested but Government should find a way of claiming back our money.

Comments are closed.