Msungama justifies his India medical trip,  speaks on hair treatment : ‘It’s my own Masm scheme not taxpayers’

January 4, 2021 Wanga Gwede - Nyasa Times 62 Comments

Minister of Youth and Sports Ulemu Msungama has justified his trip to India where he went for a medical help on a leg problem and said he had taken advantage of the trip to undergo  a back and head surgery.

Msungama (Left) with headbandage after treatment in India

In an audio voice notes he sent to Nyasa Times reporter, Msungama confirmed that  he had travelled to India to seek medical attention on his leg.

“I injured my leg while playing social football for Parliament team,” he said.

“I went to ACB Clinic  (in Lilongwe) and then I was referred to Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital for MRI (Magnetic resonance imaging). Then the images were taken to Doctor Kampondeni for interpretation and I was recommended to go for surgery,” said Msungama.

“We have been processing this through Masm ( Medical Aid Society of Malawi  —the country’s biggest health insurance scheme by membership),” he said.

“Initially I wanted the surgery to be done in South Africa but with theCovid-19 threat , I opted for India. Of course if you compare the two, India is the best,” said Msungama.

Commenting on his pictures in head bandage which circulated on social media with claims that he had undergone a hair transplant after being paranoid of his hair loss, Msungama said he had to seek medical help on his back and tension headaches.

“Now because  I was here [India] , I took advantage of my presence. I had pain with my back and at the back of head and they did a surgery on that, hence the bandages,” he said.

Msungama said all the treatment was under his Masm scheme and not on taxpayers money, denying that K20 million was used for his medial bill.

On the hair transplant treatment, Msungama said : “I use hair fibres which I buy from UK . It’s almost equivalent K21 000  a bottle . I have another brother of mine who uses the same.”

Msungama has since returned home from the medical trip.

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62 replies on “Msungama justifies his India medical trip,  speaks on hair treatment : ‘It’s my own Masm scheme not taxpayers’”

  1. We fail to send Athletes who need their legs more for surgery to India only wasting money on treating a minister’s leg which he does not need for his survival.

  2. The payment in excess of MK19 million was made by Ministry of Sports. Since the Ministry had no budget line to cover this Treasury was forced to insert this line in the Ministry of Sports budget. Normally such payments for Ministers welfare are paid by OPC. Ministries are not supposed to cover payments like these for Ministers. MK19million covered travel expenses and hospital bill. The hospital had submitted an invoice for treatment. It is not good for the minister to be lying to Malawians. He better keep quiet and enjoy taxpayers money in silence. Masm should also desist from being used by lying politicians. Masm presence at the press conference is a big disservice to the general public.

  4. Tiyambe kuwafufuza kuti akuba kwambiri ndi a chipani chanji? Inde ndi boma la tonse koma zili ngati boma la nyama za mntchire (nguluwe, anyalugwe, mikango, asakhwi, mimbulu, agwape, aswiswili onse akulamula dziko) Ndiye funso ndikumatu kodi mtundu wa nyama omwe ukubawo ndi uti? Kodi munawerengapo buku la animal farm? MCP imadana ndi buku limenelo.

  6. The Minister used tax payers money for covering his flights and allowances. He can’t deny this fact. The knee problem didn’t even require one to go to India, Beit Cure or KCH and Queens would do. Here at KCH, we are treating more critical issues than what he had. Comparing South Africa and India does not add any value. He lied that MASM covers for cosmetic surgery, this is not true. He is very dishonest.

    1. MASM must have paid for the knee problem in India, gov paid for his travel and allowances and perhaps he paid for his own hair thing? But even then it still looks like a waste of money…….

      It’s the essence of why people fight governments mainly here in Africa, it’s simply to have access to poorly controlled public resources….

  7. Aha, this is how servant leadership works! First you serve yourself….??? I hope you agree, this is not according to Christian values, Mr Chakwera?
    This one is on a health spa in India and his bosses are doing a Siku tourney through the country! We the taxpayers should get worried, much input little outputs!
    Where is the change gentlemen?
    We voted for you, please facilitate the action!

  8. A honourable Ulemu, mpakana ku India kukapanga DELETE ULEMU wapamutuwo…eeeh ndiye mwasala pang’ono kuyendera Chimtengo tu…ai pepani maloto sang’amba. Ba deletani! Ma airport avuta zeedi…

  10. Asaname.MASM does not cover cosmetic transplants like hair or plastic surgery. MASM yankhulanipo b4 anthu kudzadza seeking for similar transplants.

    1. No it does not, so he has definitely paid from his own pocket because taxpayers money does not cover cosmetic surgery as well….so I don’t see any warranty for a public outcry…

  12. Hehehehehe koma M’malawi sazatheka munthu waku uzani kuti anapitila mwendo nde konko waona kuti ohhhh vuto lam’mutuli andithandizekonso,you think kuti iyeyo alibe ndalama? Nde mukamati you are adisgrace what do you mean?So you think kuti ku India zipatala ndizodhula? Iyeyo ndi advantage yake chonde amalawi don’t mix ndale ndizinthu za personal you’ll never prosper

  13. This is stupidity at it’s most!
    Chakwera ukugona izi? Akupweteketsa anawa trust me. Act or die with these bastard wasters of our money.
    Utsogoleri wanu uoneka
    kuti ndi 0% pakulephera kukonza izi.
    Magufuli akanakhala izi zachitika ku Tz akanamupanga fire uyu asanabwerere kuno kumudzi. Koma inu, ayi ndithu, kwantele basi

  15. The ministers are becoming more powerful than the president, why, no leadership. How can we entrust Chakwela and Chilma to run government when the two have never had experience in the civil service? That is why they are stranded now. Chilima cheated us that Peter and DPP were blocking him to work and perform. Tell us is Peter and DPP still blocking you. Chakwela told Malawiians that he will use you Chilima. Has Chakwela Chakwela changed his mind? Bakili managed some how because he had intelligent ministers likes of Aleke Banda and others. Bingu was intelligent but had to pick fellow intelligent Goodall Gondwe and things were ok despite Bakili and John Tembo trying to frustrate him. Tonse Government a replicate of Joyce Banda Administration. No direction. Shame!!!

  16. Jealousy too much a Malawi. that spirit will take you no where. muzikhalira yomweyo ya pa social media kunama maboza n gaining nothing in return.

    pangani zanu Honorable, no need to justify your personal trips.

  18. I am interested to know whether Kampondeni and Brian Banda who claim to be working for a transparent government ever told Malawian in any of their weekly briefings about the illness of Minister, Msungama and where he was receiving treatment. Let them tell Malawians how much tax payers money has been spend for the treatment of Msungama. Was his sickness about dealth and life that he has surpassed some patients that have been on a waiting list for many months now? Why prioritize him. Are we in an animal farm where some are more animals than others? One term Presidency is qualifying. Thanks you Tonse for giving us material for building a strong case to show you an exit door in 2025.

  20. I am UTM… an begrudgingly voted Tonse due to the circumstances..so far disappointment after disappointment this Tonse thing.

    This minister is blatantly lying.

    Malawians when trusted with such positions let’s use our conscience to do the right thing.

  21. AMalawi ndife atsoka. From what the then opposition politicians used to call a a “thieving govt” during the campaign peeiod, to another mediocre and corrupt govt.
    Meanwhile, I am reliably informed that ministers Mtambo and Chimwendo Banda have bought tankers and placed them under Rashy Motors. All under 6 months. Cry, my beloved country.

  23. Malawians we talk too much about everything even private and personal ussues. So disgusting. Whats all this nouse about? Just someone decides to do gair whatever basi ikhale nkhani? No wonder we are the poorest country on earth….time wasting.
    Mwaziwako kachizungu eeeeh muvutatu

    2. Exact reason why we are one of the poorest countries in the world,a minister more worried about his receding hair line than his work,we have a new stadium in Area 49 not only falling apart ,government faring miserably to look after it,plus as promised by Tonse Alliance promise to bring Kamuzu Institute of Youth back to its former glory,and countless other problems that besets our sports needs his urgent attention and instead he flies out for a hair transplant at taxpayers expense,absolutely absurd,since 1994 these politicians have just taken us for a one big ride,,the lust for taxpayers money comes with side effects,it will end sadly for them.

  24. Kodi basi moyo wawo uli mmanja mwanu tsopano amalawi chifukwa cha ma unduna muziasatira kulikose…tamawonani anthu owapanga follow mmm ndi amenewa omwe??

  26. Very sad, this is a disgrace. He is very young but too much blunders, this will paint a bad picture like youths are irresponsible & can not hold big positions. Politicians are like all from the same womb.

  29. This is not news at all . Munthh wapita ku chipatala is not feeling well basi ikhale news? Firstly , is he entitled to go India?If yes then no news. Give us news osati mbwelerazi.

    1. Lachi, do you know the definition of news or you simply want to defend Msungama because he buys you cheaps chapa chiwaya? This man is in a position of public trust and is paid our tax money, why should it be news when you and me fall ill go to Mchesi clinic and he spends tax payers money for his health. How special is he. Why can’t Khumbize Chiponda improve the health deliveru system so that when we fall ill we should be treated locally? Don’t be stupid by defending nyau. I am human being too who also wants to be treated in India, but it never happens. His problem could have easily be treated at Beit Cure. Whoever recommended that he be transferred to India and the one who authorized his travel must both be helkd accountable. This is abuse of positions.

  30. bastard! u think we dont know it all.
    mubweeako adha muzaone. u think we dont know how MASM works?????????? wasuta fwaka(fodya) ubwerako tikuti. just keep you balls safe mphwanga. stop this sickening justifications.
    paja unamanga ukwati wako ndi ndalama za boma hetini after kucoka ku boys 1/4s.

  31. Honourable Msungama, India has more COVID cases than South Africa, in fact as of this morning India is second to USA on the list of infections and South Africa is number 16….you are either lying or misleading the public or both.
    MASM my honourable does not pay for hair transplant…..you are lying to the public.
    Surgery on your leg my honourable can be done in Malawi. You did not need to travel to India for that and endanger Malawians with COVID from Hyderabad or Baroda.
    My honourable you are a disgrace and dishononarable

    1. He thinks Malawians are fools that they wouldn’t know of covid situation in India. I was also questioning as to why such a simple surgery couldn’t take place in Malawi. Is our health system really that bad? Sad.

  32. Kudya katatu patsiku, feteleza wochipa, kulumukiza magetsi ndimadzi kwaulele, kutsitsa mtengo wamafuta, etc Koma ali busy kukakonza madazi ku India. Boma la Tonse is nonsense. Five years of this kindergarten government is hell of a lot.

  35. He has the right to go to any hospital he wants if his capacity allows. I don’t see any issue here. Even me if my economic capacity allows I would go for the best hospital for my treatment. Amalawi, let’s be sober.

  36. So its true he has a hair problem, dazi, he has said himself he has been using fibers from UK at 21,000 a bottle.

    Neck surgery they cannot bandage your head. Unless the head is now a new neck.

    MCP, we will see wonders. They are threatening journalists and all with contrary views, they are slowly creating a monster One State rule.

    Ulemu ndi ana abusa, this is the end of the story.

    Boma la Tonse

    1. He suspiciously sounds as if he’s talking shit. If our taxes were indeed used to put hair on his head, then we’re truly a shithole nation!

    2. Indeed MASM will never pay for such cosmetic treatments. They are referred to as non-payables

      1. “May be President Chakwera hired a boy to do a man’s job”. We need mature and serious people to become Malawi’s cabinet ministers. This is very unfortunate to all of us.

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