Malawi govt says Central Medical Stores Trust lying on arrears

Government has rejected claims by Central Medical Stores Trust (CMST) that it owes the trust K7 billion, saying treasury paid all arrears to CMST and other organizations long ago.

The statement by Nations Msowoya, spokesperson for treasury sharply contradicts that of minister of Health Peter Kumpalume who acknowledged the government owes CMST huge sums of money in arrears.

Msowoya said the government has cleared all the K150 billion in arrears it owned both to government and private sector.

“We do not own arrears to anybody,” said Msowoya.

CMST director general Kaufa said the ministry of Health owes the CMST in K7 billion.

Msowoya said the government had cleared the K150 billion in arrears since 2011.

Health minister Kumpalume said the government would look into the matter seriously.