Malawi First Lady admits getting Aids money for her charity launch

Malawi’s First Lady Gertrude Mutharika has admitted that her Beautify Malawi Trust (Beam) got K5 million from the country National Aids Commission (Nac) but she was quick to deny that her charity bulldozed its way to get the money.

Gertrude Mutharika: Malawi First Lady: Confessed the money was collected from NAC
Gertrude Mutharika: Malawi First Lady: Confessed the money was collected from NAC

NAC is a government institution that is mandated to fight HIV and Aids and is funded by the Global Fund on the Fight Against HIV and Aids, Tuberculosis and Malaria while Beam was set up to champion cleanlisness and sanitation in the country.

In an interview, Mutharika insisted that there was nothing sinister in how the funds were obtained.

Mrs Mutharika comments come after reports allege that Beam and Mulhakho wa Alhomwe, a tribal grouping that President Arthur Peter Mutharika belongs and is its patron as well as the country’s National Intelligence Bureau (NIB) drew a total of K57.4 million from Nac.

“It was a standard letter which went out to a number of organisations and institutions including Nac, to help with the launch of Beam. We did not force anyone to give out any money. The organisations gave out the money out of their free will,” said Mrs Mutharika.

According to the First Lady she did not use state machinery as others are alleging explaining that not every organisation that was approached to assist managed to do so.

Her explanation comes after some civil society organisation has put pressure on Beam and the two institutions to give back the money which they are saying was given to wrong institutions that have nothing to with the fight against HIV and Aids.

In a joint statement released last week, Malawi network of People Living with HIV and Aids, Malawi Health Equity Network (Mhen), Centre for Development of people (Cedep) and Centre for Human Rights Rehabilitation described the development as a pure sign of misappropriation of funds.

Reports have indicated that Mulhakho wa Alhomwe drew K9.4 million, National Intelligence Bureau drew K43 million while Beam drew the K5 million.

And State House drew K12 million from NAC to fund cash handouts for journalists who were invited to what was supposed to be an interface with the President but later turned out to be a dinner- dance and cash handout event.

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Trevor manyi
Trevor manyi
9 years ago

What is the NIB receiving money that is meant for HIV aids for? Failed state

Mrs nkambako
Mrs nkambako
9 years ago

Why did u Get rude and ur beam write to NAC knowing pretty well that it wasn’t in line with what NAC funds?. You didn’t force them yes but who says no to the presidents request in Malawi? Kuti muwapeze zifukwa akukana. Iwe ndi amuna ako nonse mbuzi mubweze

Tan'gatan'ga
Tan'gatan'ga
9 years ago

Namaroko! ndowe zakozo kawauze a UNAIDS, iwe ndiye wanzeru kuposa iwo?

davie
davie
9 years ago

ee ine2 ai

Think Tank
Think Tank
9 years ago

123,namarokoro,are sure of your history? The Ngoni came 1800s while the lomwes iam told in 1900s. Iam here to be corrected.

amfumu
amfumu
9 years ago

Well,that is why you got attracted to the president?Fisi sayenda ndi njoka kapena bakha ndi mphaka.You are birds of the same feathers.Both of you are corrupt,dishonest,ugly,money hungry monsters.Why so much money coming from an organisation that is a beggar itself?I initially thought only the president was a fool,but you too?

GONAMKULAWE
GONAMKULAWE
9 years ago

BAVA ZIMEZI KUYAMBILA BINGU PA CHAKUTI PAWO ABWEZE NDALAMAZO, MMALO MOTI ADZICHINDANA NDI OPANDA MANO UJA ALI BUSY KUTIBELA

kume kume
9 years ago

NAC GATE, KIKIKIKI

syamboza
syamboza
9 years ago

MBUZI ZA ATHU IZI AGALU ENIENI MALAWI TIDZINGOLIRA

ndadabwa
9 years ago

eeee!!pose ngati kankhuku konyowa ndi mvula. komatu mumakhala ngati chitseko ndi felemu

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