Mulakho chair in hiding over NAC-gate cash: Receiving death threats

Mulakho wa Alhomwe district chairperson in Ntcheu Foster Masuli – currently in hiding – has revealed is receiving threats from unknown people who he says are set to “silence” him should he keep on pressing the organisation to account for what they did with the K9.4 million they received from the National AIDS Commission (NAC) last year.

NAC, most of whose funding has been suspended by international donors including the Global Health Fund, had been one of the financiers of the annual Mulakho wa Alhomwe festival – a tribal grouping to which Pres Peter Mutharika belongs to.

Speaking with Nyasa Times in a internet video interview from an undisclosed location, Masuli said prior to the threats he had written the National Executive Committee (NEC) asking for a thorough breakdown on how the donation was used.

“[As a district committee] we’ve the right to know how finances are used because at the end of the day we’re accountable to all members of our grouping,” he said.

Masuli claims that a Mrs Betty Siyani, who works as a clinical officer at State House, is the architect of the threats that he is getting.

“She has been meeting Mr Muchanakhwaye Mpuluka, who is the administrative secretary, coaxing him to deal with me.

“She also ordered Mr Anderson Pondani, Mulakho wa Alhomwe eastern region chairman, to stop me from corresponding or commenting on Mulakho wa Alhomwe issues,” explained Masuli.

Masuli claims that he has been asking too many questions about the NAC funds and that some executive members are not comfortable.

“I can’t disclose my location,” he said. “My life is in danger and this has negatively affected my businesses. I have a family and relatives who depend on but with what is happening now I’m almost incapacitated,” complained Masuli.

He said he was convinced that “these people have employed thugs who are after my life.”

Asked whether he has reported the threats to police, Masuli was indifferent.

“They are the same and I cannot waste my time reporting these issues to them,” he said.

He warned that if the current national executive was not dissolved, a lot more harm will be caused to the country.

“They [executive members] have overstayed. Most of them are greedy, and it’s high time we made changes,” he said.

Commenting on the matter, the district’s Mulakho wa Alhomwe welfare director Erick Butao said he was concerned with the disappearance of Masuli.

Butao said he was concerned with the cracks that were emerging in the grouping.

“I’m appealing to the president who is the patron of the grouping to bring to a round table all concerned parties so that the issue is resolved amicably. This is a cultural grouping and thus some people should not use their powers to oppress others,” said Butao.

The Secretariat refused to comment on the matter.

Mulakho wa Alhomwe was launched on October 28, 2008 by late President Bingu wa Mutharika – brother to Peter Mutharika. It is a cultural grouping of Lhomwes in the country and wields much power.

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