Malawi’s minister sheriffed: Warrant of seizure executed
Sheriffs in Malawi have pounced on one of the country’s cabinet ministers impounding her property for allegedly failing to settle a debt of K13 million.
The newly appointed Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Grace Chiumia who is also an MP for Nkhatabay East, has been caught in the scam after she failed to remit part payment of a house which she facilitated to be sold to a USA organization Chisomo Garry Widows Organisation.
According to a court affidavit by the owner of the house Mwiza Mkandawire, the house was sold in August 2013 at K40 million which was to be paid in three installments of K3.48 million, K22,872,763 and K13,647,237.
However, Chiumia only managed to remit the first two installments but third one which was due by September 16, 2013 is still outstanding.
“The said agreement stipulated that the defendants would pay the final installment within 30 days of transfer of lease,” reads the affidavit.
The transfer of lease was effected on August 16, 2013.
Chiumia confirmed that some sheriffs raided her house in Mzuzu and confiscated various items.
“I have been informed that they swept everything from the house,” she said.
However, the minister denied owing Mkandawire any money or buying a house from him.
She explained that the house was sold to the American organisation, which was supposed to make the payments while she was just used to facilitate the deal.
Chiumia said actually the agreement was that Mkandawire would be paid in dollars and she believed that he started raising concerns following the appreciation of the kwacha which led to him thinking that he was losing out from the agreed K40 million.
Follow and Subscribe Nyasa TV :