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.

Follow and Subscribe Nyasa TV :
Follow us in Twitter

78 replies on “MRA suspends commissioner Namalomba over ‘timber-gate’: Malawi MP Masangwi implicated”

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

  2. 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

  3. 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

  4. 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

    1. 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

  5. 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

  6. 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

  7. 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.

  8. Exploits University-End of term exams
    Question 1
    Discuss gross misconduct of the commissioner of customs(40 marks)

  9. MRA mukuyang’ana kumeneku mukhala ndi ma inspectors owona za kalowedwe kakatundu kuchera paliponse akachoka pa border, Ngakhale inu a Malawi Bureau of standards, katundu amene amanena pa wailesi a Director general kuti alibe zikalata zolowetsera kubvomerezeka ndi abureau, ambiri amalowera pa border pomwepo koma katangale wa chuluka. Apanikizeni mwagwirawo aulura.

    Chilungamo nchfunika Phiri tikugwirani.

  10. Kadamkweza,

    Malawi is poor everywhere, regardless of north, south, or centre. Even some parts of north are better than Neno, Dowa, Phalombe, Ntchisi, Nsanje, Chikwawa, Chiradzulu, Machinga.

    If you are saying north has nothing to show, why is Malawi clinging to it? Let it go.

    Honestly, I hate people with tribalistic minds, like you.

  11. Koma izi zokha tipwetekana. Ife tizivutika ndi misonkho wina akuba mkati momwe muno? Masangwi?Masangwi? watch out.

  12. look at ndirande mountain its now naked because of crooks like these. then we worry about floods because of people like these who dont know the long term effects of their greedy actions. Its very sad how people are very self centred in Malawi. They dont care about the greater good; this just shows how unpatrioritic Malawians are !!!

  13. Kamuzu kubzala mitengo muli tiye nayoni Kamuzu adafa zamasiye izi. Honestly we should be ashamed of ourselves we can not think that this country is ours and do things in a manner that the country is ours. Inu muli ndi mphamvunu mphamvu koma zoononga. tatiyeni tisamaleko zinazi abale

  14. Ngati mukufuna kupindula pa business mukagula Katundu wanu kunja pitisani ku Elvis freight akakumangirani clear motchipa ndipo simuzalipila ma top up awa amavutisa a custom.

  15. Bambo Kamoto gwatani ntchito momasuka onse ophwanya malamulo chitani naoni. All we want is seriousness and good service to us the public. Anyamata anu akutisowesa mtendere mma border mu yet andale akupanga ma deal oopsa chomchi

  16. Dziko likutha ili. Masangwi controlling customs. Kumachita kulamula kuti tamuikeni mzimai opepera uja ku office yopanga ma documents ku Bt and anthu Ena amene Amaona kuti aziwasokoneza ma deal awoo anasamusidwamo.wina anayikidwa pa Dedza kuti azikafusisa

    1. Nae ombwambwanau akanalapa Masangwi yemweyu anamusamusisa kupita ku Chiponde lero akuloreraso kuti azimuyuza anthu ena amaganiza mopelewera ndithu

  17. Imwe mwa vibanthu va DPP tilekereni Chikangawa uyu.Mundavuke kwiba nadi.Pali kupambani kulikose na cashgate nthena apa? Mukalimbikilanga kuti munjireso m’boma kuti muzakalemerenge mwachinyengo.Chiuta watigwilirengeso ntchito.

  18. Why is everybody blaming Noel here you shallow minded people. Noel is a professional snmuggler that’s his job. Blame those MRA officials who do deals with him. They are useless, foolish and dull. They know their job and they do not want to do it. Some were specifically transferred to sections and station to be facilitating these dirty deals what a shame

  19. Viphya started as Viply for pulp for making paper, what ever went wrong?

    And how come companies and few individuals are benefiting from selling timber from trees which are a national asset? How is Malawi benefiting from the trees it planted? How does RAIPLY for example monopolise this business using trees planted by Maalwi government? …..other key people like an exMinister in Mzuzu too..is involved in timber! Z t only for the elite? the connected?

  20. What is wrong in Malawi? ‘We shall name those who are corrupt and involved in destroying national resources and environment shortly’……why shortly”. The poorest nation on earth is dieing and you say ‘… shortly’. Name them now or you are part and parcel of it. Departments of Environment, Forestry and Natural Resources the worst when it comes to staying ‘phwii!!’, corruption and yet getting promoted.

  21. Masangwi has been known for a lot of corrupt activities for a long time. Some them include vehicle clearances – people have been giving him money to have their vehicles cleared on very very very low duty values. Same thing with houses deals. And now timber issues. He is a ‘sacred cow’ because of tribe and DPP affiliation. If we really love our country, please ACB, POLICE etc investigate this man thoroughly. He is one of the people retarding development of this nation.

  22. Lv noel alone. He’s ahardworker that lknow. Palibe, ndipo sazapezeka, yemwe anamilapo ndithukuta lake lomwe.

  23. KADAKWIZA, then you don’t know what you are telling the Public. The Tumbukas not really hating them as my brothers and sisters the fact is that in main Cash gate matters the most used group to steal is this tribe of Tumbukas and please make a good research. They are mostly used to destroy economy of this country and enriching their office mates from other parts of the regions and yet they have nothing in their DEAD NORTH as commonly known even outside Malawi.It is this times that they try to organise themselves by at least developing their region and many of the TUMBUKAS cling to cities of Blantyre, Lilongwe and Zomba citing the reasons of inter marriages, TOO SORRY YES MARRY OUR SISTERS BUT TRY TO REMEMBER YOUR POOREST REGION IN MALAWI EVEN THOUGH YOU GO TO SCHOOL AND COME UP WITH PhD’s.

  24. Nanga Namalomba zoguliridwa Magalimoto ndi Combine Cargo for that company to have favours from MRA .Timadabwatu MRA kumayendetsadwa ndi Combine Cargo .Magalimoto amakuguliraniwo eti.

  25. Zooooona shatta!!!!!!! Umakwana dolo,, anthu atulowa kuwachenjelesa basi!!!!!!!!!!! Masangwi umakwana, ma feels dolol iwe ndi 1 olo peter sangamake!!!!!! NONSE mukutokota ya Masangwi ndi ma kape,, muzisaukabe iye akungolemelabe,, FOOLS

  26. Bwana Kamoto is scared of Namalomba because is close to the powers and hatred started when Namalomba was Chair of the Fundraising for Mulhako wa alomwe.Muocha nazo Zala d izi.inutu munapita kumeneko coz you are a brother to the wife of the VP and you know who is in charge of this Govt

    1. Kamoto tinamuika chifukwa MRA amaidziwa kale while Namalomba contract itatha amapita ku state house kukalira udindo uku akuopseza anthu ena amene anapanga apply for the position Mpaka ena had to withdraw.Choncho dziko lingatukuke? Dzachimidzi basi

  27. @ Phsyatangu yakuwawa waziwa kuti Kamoto akayamba kusokolosa tcheni chonse ikukhuza. Umnya uona.munasanjanatu bwino

  28. Masangwi is the master minder of all these ,he has been threatening custom officers at both Chiponde and Muloza border to allow these round woods to pass without proper documentation,on Thursday 5 of these trucks crossed Muloza border to Beira having documents showing that the containers are loaded with burley tobacco to Beira port.

  29. a MRA staff mwayiwala kuti ine nditatenga u president ndinamusuntha Namalomba pa u commissioner ndikumupangira office ya commissioner of exports mpaka a IMF analusa ndikupeleka 6 months kuti office imeneyo ithe. ndipo Katsongandinamubwelesa chifukwa cha uncle Khumbo komaso anabwera kudzalira kuti ulova wamuthyola. Peter atalowa anafuna kutsata pempho la IMF kuti no where in the world you have two commissioners for customs. Poti Katsonga sanapange interview amayenereka atuluke ndithu abwezere office kwa mwini wake. Mwina angadandauletu ndi Emmanuel Kaluluma poti Namalomba came after him koma Katsonga munthu oti anachita kulilirayo. Amaio asiyeni vacancy inatuluka ija ma interview sanapange bwa amafuna kulowa chamutu? inu ndika team ka Katsonga wakaphwasula Namalomba kaja. alipo ambiri udindowu atha kuukwanitsa ao asiyeni azikapanga zolima soya moreover paja amasula anthu awo oti awasiire udindo kusonyeza kuti akuziwa kuti akalamba.

  30. @ Ujeni, let me correct your comment. Malawi is poorest in the world today not because of Selfish Malawians. You rather say Malawi is poorest today because of Chewas, Yaos and Lhomwes. These are the people who were in government 51 years ago. Leave Northerners and Senas out of this looting of government resources and depleting Chikangawa forest. I just want to correct Mr Ujeni here.

  31. The problem of putting people on positions based on nepotism and tribalism ndilimenero bwana Kamoto. Mesa you transferred Mrs Katsonga to Lilongwe to create space for this gangster Namalomba. Posakhalitsa timva kuti George Mankhwala ndi Director. What a f……k

    1. Katsonga Katsonga what that’s another devil and nepotistic. She even came to MRA coz of politics and was not even interviewed bola mzakeyu anapanga ma interview. To hell with that devil again. Let her finish her term and go and rest wakalamba mkona amangolongololaso apa

    2. Kodi MRA staff bwanji umadana ndi George Mankhwala. We know you are Oscara or sent by him. You are very bitter because they removed you. Waiwala kuti iwenso unachita kuikidwapo ena atachokapo. Nanga nkhaniyi yamukhudza. Enanu muziyamika Mulungu bwenzi muli ku teaching ku Nsanje. Iwe ndi nzako lawyer wantali uja anabwereza ku Chancol you are full of miseche basi. Ma lawyer antundu wanji a miseche ngati akazi.

  32. Noel Masangwi has been thugging the nation even before DPP era. To my knowledge, besides his strong belief in black magic, Masangwi is connected to a lot of bootlegging activity, sale of human body parts and money laundering.
    I very much doubt the capability of state agents to stop this guy.
    He is very dangerous and well connected.

  33. Zosadabwitsa popeza zikuonekeratu ntchito za DPP. Mr Namalomba nayenso is DPP connected and was just imposed as Commissioner of Customs with Bingu displacing qualified people to take up that post. Whatever is happening is not news in DPP it might be news to enefe. These are typical ntchito za manja a DPP. Sad no development with this crooked Party.

  34. when is this Masangwi going to be jailed? he is fingered everywhere chasowa death, cash gate, smuggling activities?

  35. Bravo Ralph amalize osaona MCP ilipo ikuteteza mbava zimenezi.anaika syndicate yoopsa taking advantage kuti iwe wabwera kumene. Agumule usawanyengerere. Ngati ukufuna information tikupasa Ife

  36. NOEL MASANGWI AMANENA KUTI PALIBE CHIMENE PETER MUTHARIKA ANGAMUPANGE CHIIFUKWA HE IS WELL CONNECTED. WASTE OF TIME KUMUCHULA AMENEYU

  37. Masangwi is untouchable,though most most of us know that he is a mafia but nobody can bring him to book. He is well connected,he wins road construction projects but he doesn’t have even a wheelbarrow. That is Noel Masangwi.

  38. We are poorest for a reason. All countries God made them equal but the people who are called Malawians have made the country the poorest on the planet. Malawi politics and politicians stink shet

  39. Kodi Masangwi anabadwa bwanji?He is,most of the times,caught in wrong doings.He is a prominent big supect of Chasowa’s death and was a leader of dangerous DDP Mulalo Cadets with machete knives in Blantyre.Today he has released another shameful record.
    Why keeping him in the party that 35% of Malawians follow????????

  40. The irony is that the main culprit from the report of the Parliamentary Committee is one of their own! Eish..this masangwi guy!

  41. then you wonder why Malawi is ranked the poorest country in the world in that way. Syndicates between politicians and public workers is a major contributor. in this case Namalomba was helping this politician to sustain his hode of women including the youngest who is also a girlfriend to the new big fish at MBC

  42. When shall civil servants learn that politicians can land one in problems and they go away with it. Masangwi is a cunning politician whom late Bingu described as “smuggler”. He threatens and pushes his way. Lero ndi izi a Shadrick avulala nazo. Kamoto si wamaseweratu, amakana za katangale akumalizani mbava nonse.

    1. Kodi a Namalomba ndi a public servant kapena politician? His first time kubwera ku MRA he has been boosting Kuti ndi politician.

Comments are closed.