Malawi Parliament wants further probe on MHC scam
Malawi’s opposition member has asked government of President Joyce Banda to thoroughly investigate several of the former ruling DPP scandals including the housing scam involving the Malawi Housing Corporation (MHC) in which former cabinet ministers were involved in buying houses for a song.
MCP’s Lilongwe Nsozi south Vitus Dzoole Mwale raised the issue during debate on the 2012/2013 budget.
The MP mentioned the fertiliser subsidy coupons scams, former ministers’ shoddy acquisition of the MHC houses, awarding of temporary employment permits to foreigners, procurement of treadle pumps, and the procurement of furniture at the New Parliament building as some of the scams that need investigations.
Dzoole Mwale said the investigations should be part of the healing and cleansing process in the implementation of the budget.
“I hope this will be a budget that will enhance oversight functions by various Parliamentary Committees to examine and carry out investigations on the current and previous government’s agendas including the massive corruption committed by the former DPP high profiled members and their sympathisers,” he said.
Dzoole Mwale said the investigations should involve Parliament with an empowerment of various Committees which should undertake the investigations.
“To achieve this moral hypothesis, there should be a political will from the PP led government by opening up and allowing cabinet ministers and other high profile people in the society to appear before Parliamentary Committees whenever they are summoned,” he added.
Among several high profile personalities in the MHC scam includes DPP’s probable candidate in the 2014 presidential elections Peter Mutharika, who is also brother to former President Bingu wa Mutharika.
The former cabinet ministers and other individuals are being accused of buying several MHC houses at prices lower than the market price.
The scam led to the firing of the MHC General Manager Golden Matiya following an initial investigation into the scam by the DPP government. However, those who purchased the houses have gone unpunished.
