MP Kamlepo claims ‘persecution’: Malawi Revenue Authority used as tool of political witch-hunt

Outspoken Rumphi East member of Parliament (MP) Kamlepo Kalua, who has been at loggerheads with government over his whistleblowing on alleged corrupt practices in government, has described a Malawi Revenue Authority (MRA) raid at his house in Nkolokosa and his son’s place in Namiwawa, Blantyre on Wednesday as political persecution.

MRA seized Toyota Land Cruiser V8 registration number KA8966 and Mercedes Benz registration number RU5437 from Kalua after a search at his residential houses on allegations that he evaded duty.

But Kalua said the Mercedes Benz in question was bought by his son a musician  Penjani, popularly known as Ghetto King Fredokiss in and was cleared by Parliament in August 2014.

”The VX was locally bought in 2008 by my son and that vehicle was bought by an Indian in 1997 at Toyota Malawi. So, where did I import these vehicles,” queried Kalua.

“This is just part of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) administration’s tactics to politically persecute critics. It a strategy to harass and intimidate political big wigs,” said Kalua.

“I refused to be intimidated. I will never be cowed by these cowardice tactics. I fought against dictatorship before so what is this,” he said.

But government  spokesperson Nicholas Dausi said the matter is not politically motivated but that the tax body were carrying out their normal operations.

MRA officials also went to search the residence of Kalua around 10 o’clock in the morning but were sent back by family members as they had no search warrant.

Kalua said through lawyer Lusungu Gondwe an injunction has been obtained restraining the tax collecting body from seizing the vehicles.

They court order seen by Nyasa Times was issued at Blantyre Magistrate Court issued by Magistrate Viva Nyimba.

MRA director of corporate affairs Stephen Kapoloma said  documents that were retrieved during the operation were not for the two vehicles.

“The cars are not in the system and were registered as Vanette,” Kapoloma claimed.

He said the  vehicles aseized during the two operations are being kept at MRA offices while the Authority is conducting further verifications exercise regarding the allegations.

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