Malawi Parliament to examine document over Bingu’s wealth, offshore accounts
Parliament’s political leadership comprising of all political parties in the House have agreed to examine in detail a document which alleges former president Bingu wa Mutharika stashed huge sums of money in offshore accounts.
Speaker of the National Assembly Richard Msowoya said this in parliament on Thursday after a deadlock between the government and the opposition over the allegations brought into the House by Mzimba West MP Harry Mkandawire.
Msowoya refused that the document be tabled in the 193 strong House because it was not original, saying it was a “photocopy document” therefore its authenticity was verified.
He, therefore, directed that the House Business Committee which comprise leaders of political parties represented in the House meet and scrutinise the document and chart the way forward.
Mkandawire says Bingu had over K61 billion in estates secretly put in various bank accounts outside the country, saying the money is in US dollars and its current value is K274 billion, more than a quarter of the current K1.1 trillion of the national budget.
He then asked the government to trace the accounts and bring back the money because it was stolen from government coffers.
“In Zaire, all the money stolen by Mobutu Seseko was brought back to the country, so too in Nigeria, all the money stolen by Sani Abacha was brought back to the people of Nigeria so we want the same here. All the money stolen by Bingu must be given back to Malawians,” he said.
President Peter Mutharika is the immediate blood brother of Bingu.
Minister of Justice and Constitutional affairs Samuel Tembenu said the allegations were not factual as they provided no objetive material evidence to show that there is that kind of stolen money out there, obtained through shady deals.
“Everything that the member has said has been said out of speculations, even figures at some point seemed to conflict each other.
“Therefore, it is difficult for government to comment on factualness matters and as a result of that, there is no any kind of investigation or prosecution,” he said.
British High Commissioner Michael Nevin is on record saying revelations that former president the late Bingu wa Mutharika accumulated about K61 billion wealth are shocking and called for answers to how it was created.
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Any allegations of theft of tax payers’ money by a public official, elected or not; past or present; dead or alive must be investigated.
This is one tool in the fight against corruption. Parliament should pass a resolution to authorize such a probe. But it should not be only about the late Bingu only. Former President Joyce Banda should also be investigated.
By the way; what has happened about Declaration of Assets and Access to Information Law? The country is fed up with stealing of tax payers’ money and abuse of trust by elected officials and the civil service.
“Honourable” Tembenu, you speak like you know something about the issue which you do not want to become public. If the political party leaderships say there is need for investigation, why do you rush to the kind of conclusion that you are putting forward? Remember, you are not the only one who is capable of thinking, so stop behaving like one. Let the innocence of our late leader be established through an investigation. Until then, please keep quiet.
Responsible people and politicians in this case will say if there is this allegation (which by the way is very serious), let us investigate. So, why is Tembenu saying what he is saying. It is the truth which can only be found through investigating the matter, which will put to bed these allegations.