Mutharika denies benefitting from ‘dirty money’, says K145m from Karim was DPP donation
Following Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) report that President Peter Mutharika may have benefitted from K145 million that a supplier deposited in a Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) account for which he is the sole signatory, State House has issued a statement to clarify that the money was among donations for the party headquarters project.
Presidential spokesperson Mgeme Kalilani said in the statement that the Standard Bank account of the party which Mutharika is a sole signatory was for the construction project of party headquarters.
“The DPP has several other accounts in its name for party operations,” said Kalilani.
He confirmed that Mutharika opened the account in 2015, a year after assuming office but clarified that “it is a DPP headquarters construction project account.”
According to State House, the banking transaction in question happened two years later, in 2017.
The November 2017 ACB report says a day after the supplier Pioneer Investments—a firm owned by Zameer Karim – deposited K2.793 billion payment from Police for supplying 500 000 ration packs, the company transferred K145 million to the DPP Standard Bank account 014003192200 on April 13 2016.
Kalilani said President Mutharika is the sole signatory to the account “to ensure that funds in that account are used effectively towards the said construction project.”
The statement said the account received donations from well -wishers for that purpose.
“All withdraws from that account are used for the project and the party. His Excelkency Prif, Arthur Peter Mutharika has never personally benefitted from funds in that account.
“All transactions in that account are documented and the party has receipts for them,” reads the statement in part.
State House maintains that there is character assassination campaign against President Mutharika and the DPP from a disgruntled politician who is using his surrogates in some churches, the media and other state agencies.
In apparent reference to Vice-President Saulos Chilima, the statement said the politician has been making “Innuendos and soeaking in parables” to scandalide Mutharika and DPP.
ACB director Reyneck Matemba confirmed the probe into allegations of fraudulent transactions in ration packs contract between the Police and Pioneer.
State House said Mutharika had no knowledge of the ACB probe, saying he has nothing to hide and is “calling upon the ACB to thoroughly and professionally investigate the said business transaction.”
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Do Malawians expect that Peter Mutharika would accept wrongdoing. In any case he has stolen much more than the MK145million so this is like change. It is a fact the whole DPP is heavily corrupt and the sad part is that they protect each other. DPP is made up of mbava zokha zokha. The reason why corruption is flourishing in Malawi is that its people are fast sleeping. The poor and uneducated villagers are basically running the country. These are the people whose votes matter. In as long as they have the power to vote; these poor and uneducated people… Read more »
MALAWIANS,IF NOW YOU DO NOT LEARN FROM MUTHALIKA THE ONLY OUR OMNIPOTENT GOD WILL DECEND ON US AND TEACH US A LESSON.FIRST IT WAS BANDA,WE EMBRACED AND ADOLLED THE THUG WITHOUT EVEN KNOWING WHO HE WAS,WHERE DID HE COME FROM,WHO WERE HIS PARENTS,YOU JUST FELL IN LOVE WITH THE THUG AND YOU SAW FOR YOURSELF WHAT HE DID TO YOU.THEN OTHER ROGUES CAME,IN THE NAMES OF BINGU AND PETER MUTHALIKA,AS USUAL YOU FELL IN LOVE JUST BECAUSE OF MWANA WA KWATHU,YOU HAVE SEEN HOW YOUR SONS HAVE DONE,MY FELLOW MALAWIANS,INDEED NOW WE LOOK MORONS.LOOK AT THE MCP,YOU HAVE FALLEN IN… Read more »
This is a golden hand shake from Karim for a contract deal with an inflated price for supplying food rations to ? police.
That’s the problem of deploying persons in more challenging positions than they deserve or than what they are actually capable of doing. What Mgeme is saying does not make sense at all. Look, the president being a sole signatory to the bank account does not (ensure) guarantee money will be used effectively (for intended purpose). In fact it’s a recipe for disaster. LOOTING!!! In fact, credible accountable transaction requires at least 3 signatories. Being president does mean one cannot STEAL. In fact that’s what is EXACTLY is the problem in Malawi. People who steal are in high position, magogo, matchona,… Read more »
Ngakhale ma Khadeti akubvomeleza..apa ndiye katangale wanyanya! Mpaka mmwenye kupeleka 145 Million kwacha after getting paid from state coffers? What a donation! APM as a lawyer knows that this is corruption of the highest order. No wonder he wants another term….to get more donations!
Wakuba amavomera. Tawerenga report yonsetu. Account ya mmwenye wakubayu munalibe Ndalama. It was only after he got paid that he decided to pay you Gogo Mbava Pitala.
Adadi ndi sizinantoledi ndimangomva shaaaaaaa ndalama zanga koma ndiye zabedwa. Muthalika will be arrested on the 22 May, 2019 before announcement of results that Chakwera has won and kuzakhala exodus wakumaula kuti tikamuone sizinantole ameneyu.
Your Exellency Apa ndiye you have being caught pants down. Mmwenye akapereka donation ya 145m for nothing? No no no!!!!
Koma ndiye mupita ndi zochepatu. Osafuna amayi bwanji ukatswiri wa Cashgate. Just resign basi
This is state capture at its best….#zamutharika
Benefiting from proceeds of a serious crime. Opening a party account and being sole signatory. These are not things to be ignored. Consipiracy to defraud, Money laundering, Theft. Serious grounds for impeachment