MRA catches DPP’s Masangwi for tax cheat: Malawi MP declares K170m goods at K3m

President Peter Mutharika is on record describing ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) lawmaker Noel Masangwi as a “smuggler” in a leaked gossip talk. The DPP heavyweight who has been making headlines for tax evasion is in the news again for wrong reasons, allegedly for under declaration of goods worth K174 million at only K3 million.

Masangwi: Described by President Peter Mutharika as a 'smuggler'
Masangwi: Described by President Peter Mutharika as a ‘smuggler’

Malawi Revenue Authority (MRA) says the MP for Blantyre City East has made government lose K16 million tax by declaring the goods at K3 million instead of K174 million.

According to MRA spokesperson Steve Kapoloma, Masangwi tried to cheat customs officers at Songwe border in Karonga through his Elvis Freight clearing agency.

“On 20th May 2015 Songwe received two containers containing Zitenje fabrics imported by Miladgi Tradings. The importer identified Elvis Freight as their clearing agent. Upon receipt of an application for transit to Blantyre by Elvis Freight, the officers conducted a comprehensive examination considering that the commodity is risky.

“Physical examination revealed that through the number of bales of fabric was the same declared, the actual number of metres of fabric was grossly under-declared. There were 650 bales as declared. However, 7,800 metres were declared while examination established 377 160 metres. Declared value was K2 940 600.00 while upon applying the values for zitenje, the total value came to K174 039 727.68″, said MRA spokesperson as quoted in the press on Sunday.

Kapoloma said the importer was expected to pay 16.5 percent import value added tax amounting to K16 million considering that the goods were coming from within the Southern African Development Corporation
(Sadc) region.

He said Miladgi Tradings will also pay penalties for “under declaration”.

Masangwi has not commented on the allegation, attempts to reach him have proved futile.

The politician, who is a National Governing Council (NGC) member of DPP, was embroiled with another tax scandal when he was accused of using his political power to silence MRA officials and to
release his four containers that were seized because they carried the banned Mukula timber which had originated from Zambia.

Masangwi claimed he is not into timber business and accused people he did not name “for dragging him into the circus”

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Dzakondidzomweudya
Dzakondidzomweudya
8 years ago

Malawians let us open up and understand that birds of a feather flock together and stop defending the obvious. We had Freight Handlers what happened ( May the soul of Salim Sheick rest in peace). There is just no way that a reputable trader would choose a crook to handle his/her consignment and every company is synonymous with the influence of the owner cause thats where the margins are determined. I do not have kind words for this man who is associated with a lot of bad issues and is still loose because the political system is linked to his… Read more »

Cameo
Cameo
8 years ago

This writer is showing us his hatred against Hon Masangwi in the first place. APM has never say about Masangwi as smuggler never. Elvis Clearing Agent deals with documents already declared by a consignee or an Importer. Clearing Agent has nothing to do with already declared goods, their job is to help the consignee or Importer to fill required MRA forms in the MRA system and to arrive to MRA charges comprised Duty and other payments, Here Mirage Trading is an Importer and he declared his goods through documents, Elvis used the documents to enter into engagement with MRA which… Read more »

osward munde
osward munde
8 years ago

STAY AWAY FROM MASANGWI YOU FOOLS! ! MASANGWI ISN’T AN IMPORTER. COME AND SEE ME IF YOU WANT HIM AND I WILL SORT YOU OUT. MASANGWI ISN’T AN IMPORTER IN THE FIRST PLACE. LEAVE HIM ALONE HE’S BUSY WITH GOVERNMENT TASKS NOT THIS STUPID ALLEGATIONS!

ndagoma ndidziko
ndagoma ndidziko
8 years ago

Amalawi lets think and comment reasonably. Masangwis Elvis Freight is a cleaning agent. They clear on values given to them by the importer. Lets just not comment based on our personal hatred of the man. Each case should be looked at seperately osangoti kadya nkena koma mbiri nja khoswe.

my right to speak!
my right to speak!
8 years ago

Kudana ndi munthu mpaka apa?

Nivindele
Nivindele
8 years ago

Elvis freight nde ya masangwiyo. One galimoto mra charged 350,000 ntamuuza Masangwi he told me t pay 140,000. Meaning ku mra kunapita 20,000. That’s how Noel operates . Am glad wagidwa

nyavizwazwa
nyavizwazwa
8 years ago

The importing company is miladge fabrics. When reading the article you should been keen. osangotolamo ma critics okha. thus no nzeru. When clearing I think the cla=earing company has the whole details of the consignment. Do not back Masangwi. If he is acrook he is a crook by backing him will not change is character. The people like Masangwi are the cashgaters and whose hating their country. the are patriotic. Love your country and be truthful.

Kanyimbi
Kanyimbi
8 years ago

I think some people want to damage the picture of DPP. Some stories give a lot of questions.

Hoitty
Hoitty
8 years ago

I think masangwi should sue Peter Mutharika for turnishing his name in that voice clip. smuggler??? Kuonongelana mbiri.

PETER
8 years ago

SONGWE BORDER IS BIG CORRUPTION PLUS ALL ROADBLOCKS DEMAND MONEY LIVE CHECK BUSINESS PEOPLE COME FROM DARSELAAM WITH TAQWA BUS WE ARE COMPLINING ALOT U PAY IN BORDER CUSTOMS THEN HE NEED TO PAY AGAIN CORRUPTION GOING ON

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