Mist over Mutharika’s US house value: Malawi leader accused of lying in his declaration of assets
Head of State Peter Mutharika is being accused of lying in his presidential declaration of assets, overestimating the value of his house which is located in Missouri in the United States of America.
A house Mutharika said he bought at the price US$750 000 in 1982 – according to his assets declaration made public mid this month – costs less than US$300 000, Nyasa Times has established.
An agent in the US said houses like Mutharika’s, with the same structure and facilities, are currently being sold at around US$250 000.
Mutharika, his deputy Saulos Chilima, former president Joyce Banda, Speaker of Parliament Richard Msowoya and leader of opposition Lazarous Chakwera have made their assets public in accordance with the country’s constitution.
In his assets documents, Malawi leader declared to the Director of Public Assets Declaration what critics says it’s an overestimating the value of his house located in Missouri.
According to the President he bought his property in 1982 at U$750,000 at an address 81st Louis MO63105 in 250 Brentwood.
More information Nyasa Times sourced from, www.homes.com, a US portal into house selling business, corroborated our source’s estimation of houses in Brentwood.
A snapshot check on the site showed that the range of most houses in the neighborhood range between US$125 000 and US$300 000.
Mutharika claimed he purchased the house using savings from his savings as a university professor. The incumbent president taught law for many years across the world for more than forty years before joining politics.
Aside the US house, Mutharika also disclosed he owns a house in Area 10 Ulemu Drive and another in Nyambadwe, Blantyre number NY 453.
Special aide to President Mutharika, Ben Phiri, dismissed assertions that the wealth declared may be exaggerated. Asked if the President can explain how he attained his wealth, Phiri said the law does not provide such provision.
“The law says he should declare and it does not say that he should explain what he declared,” said Phiri.
Director of Public Officers’ Declarations (DPOD) Christopher Tukula has since warned that those that might have doctored assets in their declarations will have to face the long arm of the law as physical verifications are expected to be done soon.
Mutharika alsi declared that he had about $10 million deposited in banks in Malawi and the United States.
The details of his declared wealth show that Mutharika had a number of bank accounts both within and outside Malawi containing close to 4 billion Malawi kwacha (roughly $10 million) in cash.
The Malawi leader has over $8 million in two U.S. bank accounts. In Malawi, Mutharika has about $1.7 million at a local bank, along with a fleet of nine vehicles that he reportedly bought between 2001 and 2014.
Section 88 of Malawi’s constitution requires presidents and cabinet ministers to declare their assets – and those of their spouses – within three months of their election or appointment.
However, the declarations were postponed after Malawi’s Office of the Director of Public Officers Declarations gave public officials until December 31, 2014 to make them.
The idea behind the declaration of assets by elected or appointed officers is to check whether whatever assets they acquire while in office is commensurate with the perks of their offices.
Late president Bingu wa Mutharika, who died suddenly of cardiac arrest in 2012, had in May 2004 declared his wealth to be around K150 million. However, in an assessment of his estate after his death valued his wealth at K61 billion.
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Welcome to the Disney land of the Muthalika brothers. Once again Peter has fooled Malawians and himself by uttering lies and unsubstantiated on his declaration of assets which were acquired through dubious means.In fact,his revelations on the ill-gotten assets have not only astounded the suffering people of Malawi,but also the entire donor nations who know pretty well,the rough trend of Malwi’s economic footing.On the whole and in fact,Peter being in the highest office of the land he should have known the ramifications when trying to knowingly beguile the voters.Peter and his late brother Bingu under-rated the intelligence of Malawians.They very… Read more »
Well come to the Disney land of the Muthalika brothers.Once again,Peter has fooled Malawians and himself by uttering lies and unsubstantiated on his declaration of assets which were acquired through corrupt and dubious means.in fact,his revelations on the ill gotten assets have not only astounded the surfing people of Malawi,but also the entire donor nations who know well the economic predicament of the State.On the whole and ikin fact,Peter,being in the highest office of the land,he should have known the ramifications when trying to knowingly beguile the voters.Peter and his late brother Bingu underrated the intelligence of Malawians.The people know… Read more »
Have you seen how Mr. Chigawenga has presented his facts, it is as if he is an agent who helped APM bought the house. Look how he has put his e-mail address just after his comment, to make us all believe that he lives in the US on the same street where APM bought the house-this is the class of disgruntled PP supporters, the liars. This shows that the author of this story either got the information from a bogus US agent or he cooked it. No matter how you employ your tactics you will never trick us. Are you… Read more »
ANA ONSE AKWANU NDI AGALUNSO NDI AMBUYAKO OMWE MBABVA INU MUZAFA OSADWALA NGATI ANAFERA MBUYE WANU UJA.
Chindere,mbuzi, ya,pulezedenti,
Ine ndikungowelenga ma comment ndili pa kama langa nditayala chitenje cha MCP, pa khomo ndayika chitenje cha PP, pa zenela pali chitenje cha UDF, ndafunda chitenje cha DPP, pillow wa t-shirt ya amuna ndife nkumba
Osagula kapena kumanga yanu? Nyooo. Mulibe kalikonse a phwiti. Pitani mukwatire mulongo wa Paul Mphwiyo kuti mukokele.. A fisi olira huwiiii.
Its not rocket science people it is very easy to get property value anywhere in the developed world. There are similar properties (condos) on this street that are selling for far much less than what APM valued his old condo at $750,000………….. which was bought in 1982. There is no way his property would have depreciated that much in 20 yrs. and it is also not possible to have newer properties selling for far much less than what APM declared as his value for his old condominium. E: http://www.zillow.com/homedetails/250 brentwood-blvd-apt-3E-saint-louis-mo-63105
APM has grossly exaggerated his assets to allow for what he will steal while in office. He doesn’t want to fall into the same trap as his late brother whose assets at the time of his death greatly exceeded what he first declared on taking office.
Is this agent the one who helped APM acquired his house? Is it true that they use agents in the US for one to get a house or is it through the city council? The problem with these online news analysts is that most of them are not qualified journalists and I really doubt their A/O level qualifications. I understand APM submitted his assets to the Director last year, if I’m not mistaking in July on 31st if he was not in his office by then by December he saw the files, was the Assets Director blind then to notify… Read more »