MRA suspends commissioner Namalomba over ‘timber-gate’: Malawi MP Masangwi implicated

Malawi Revenue Authority (MRA) boss Ralph Kamoto has suspended commissioner for exports Shadrec Namalomba for facilitating to clear nine trucks of round wood from Chikangawa meant for export.

Masangwi:  Implicated over illegal tiber exports
Masangwi: Implicated over illegal tiber exports

The trucks that Namalomba cleared reportedly belong to ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) lawmaker Noel Masangwi.

According to an MRA staff circular number 28 dated February 20 issued by Kamoto, which Nyasa Times has a copy, Namalomba has been suspended following a preliminary report alleging “gross misconduct” from his office.

Deputy Commissioner of custom Lexon Kachala has been put an acting commissioner of exports.

Press reports exposed a shocking rush by ‘timber sharks’ to deplete round wood and government has since acted by revoking all export licences for the dealers.

Ministry of Trade and Industry principal secretary Cliff Chinua warned that anyone found exporting raw hard round wood timber “will be liable to prosecution in accordance with the provision of the relevant laws of Malawi.”

The new Parliamentary Committee on Natural Resources and the Environment said a comprehensive investigation done by its 20 members had shown that local and international syndicates, corruption and bribery were at the heart of the illegal exportation of the timber, including the local tsanya variety.

According to the committee, some Cabinet ministers, members of Parliament (MPs) as well as some civil servants who have allegedly manoeuvred to loot Malawi, by illegally exporting the nation’s prized and protected round wood through local and international syndicates, will soon be named and shamed in an investigative report to be tabled in Parliament.

Most of Malawi’s forest reserves, including Dzalanyama in Lilongwe and Viphya (Chikangawa) in Mzimba, have virtually been depleted by dealers in timber and firewood over the years.

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obalewanga
obalewanga
9 years ago

Those that dig a hole for others to fall in become the first casualties of their own malice.

Zayera
Zayera
9 years ago

No updates. Mwavinavina mukumvabwanji pano Shad ali mu office. Kumanamizana Muli Katsonga abwera.abwere kuti Mpaka atagendedwatu. Bola Shad yemweyi

MRA STAFF
MRA STAFF
9 years ago

Achita bwino kumuchotsa amabweretsa ma condition ovuta ku ma agent ang’ono ang’ono chifukwa chomvera a Edward kalua wa Combine Cargo. Uyunso bwana wa pa lilongwe port watsegura clearing company yake. Conflict of interest

Hoitty
Hoitty
9 years ago

People revealing all kinds of dubious deals by MRA and masangwi in their Nyasatimes comments. This will yield nothing. Tip off anonymous, ACB zonsezi zilipo kudikila ma report amenewa. Koma pano mungotayapo nthawi. There was a comment that revealed that Police dug up some money in a graveyard. Money that was stolen from FMB bank in that horrendous robbery in Dec 2014. No one followed that up. I bet they just shared the spoils. Shame to this poorest of the poor country

zebron
zebron
9 years ago

I just commented on two stories relating to sky-high internet prices here on Nyasatimes. Those two stories have attracted 5 comment in total – but crap stories like this attracts loads of comments. This proves the Malawian mentality – where they put their priorities. Stop sleeping Malawians. Get your priorities right! I read stuff on FB. Its a shame that crap stuff attract attention of many whilst ignoring important stuff. Stop paying too much attention to politics, scandals, gossip, etc

Sleeping man
Sleeping man
9 years ago
Reply to  zebron

You might be the one sleeping you want MALAWIANS to be quite pamene Ena akulakwira malamulo ndikuononga chuma Cha boma? We will talk,talk and talk

pika
pika
9 years ago

Malawi is poor because of chikamwini not because of what we are saying here. all countries amapanga katangale wa chonchi koma amalemelabe. Check out countries that have tradition ya chikamwini in Africa. It this country alone which has a greater population that believes and practice it. CAN WE ABOLISH IT

Mhesha
9 years ago
Reply to  pika

Please elaborate the link btn the two.

milimbo
milimbo
9 years ago

Masangwi uses DPP pickup as escort vehicle to intimidate police

BT Port
BT Port
9 years ago

Nyasi za masangwi ziri pano pa port. Inu ofufuza ingobwerani kuno musataye nthawi.

lindiwe
lindiwe
9 years ago

koma ngati wina akukumba dzenje kuti wina agweremo , agweramo yekha
. mawu a mulungu amati otchola mpanda njoka izamuluma. Lets watch. Chala cha mulungu chikaloza chalozatu musayiwale

Capital Hill
Capital Hill
9 years ago
Reply to  lindiwe

Mwayamba kutchula mulungu, mwalapatu. Osati amakumba maenje agwera mo kale pano

Arthur G.M. Mtambo
9 years ago

NOEL MASANGWI PLEASE SPEED THIS REPORT TO THE PRESIDENT, MA BWANA MU BOMA MA MP, MINISTERS, DIRECTORS, ADVISORS, PS, AKAULU ENA [SOME OF THEM]ANAYAMBA KALE IZI, MAKALA ,MATABWA, CHAMBA NDI ZINA ZOTERO.

THANKS MRA BOSS DO YOUR JOB WITHOUT FEAR AND FAVOURS.

PEPANI KUTI KU MRA NAKO KATANGALE MANINGI——– CHOSANI A BOSS.

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