Mutharika dismiss Chilima charges: Malawi leader tells Financial Times graft allegations ‘complete nonsense’
President Peter Mutharika has told a reputable UK based Financial Times newspaper that politics is at the root of vice-president Saulos Chilima’s allegations of corruption against him, saying they are “complete nonsense”.
Chilima, a 45-year-old former telecoms chief executive was handpicked by Mutharika to run alongside him in 2014 on the Democratic People’s Party (DPP) ticket but in June this year he quit the DPP citing corruption and nepotism. He has accused his boss of high-level graft, including over a $4m contract to provide rations to Malawi’s police force, called the scandal “the tip of the iceberg”
Following mounting calls for him to run in the May 2019 vote, he launched the United Transformation Movement (UTM), seeking to unseat the 79-year-old Mutharika, a former law professor.
Speaking to the Financial Times from his presidential palace in the capital Lilongwe, Mutharika described allegations of corruption levelled against him as “complete nonsense”, sayingsa politics was at the root of Chilima’s claims.
“He has simply decided he wants to be president,” said Mutharika.
“It is complete nonsense — it is all perception. Corruption is not greater now than it was before [the Cashgate revelations].”
He continued: “We are doing more development than at any time in the country’s history. If there was so much corruption there would be no money to do what we are doing.”
However, Chilima argued that corruption has worsened since Cashgate—the financial scandal involving looting of huge billions of taxpayers’ money at Capital Hill, echoing US President Donald Trump with calls to “drain the swamp”.
Civil society groups are organising anti-government protests on Septemebr 7 where among other thinsg they want to ask President Mutharika to step down after money linked to the $4m police contacts found its way into bank accounts of the ruling party.
Malawi’s main opposition party has called for the president to resign over a scandal that has provoked popular anger.
Mutharika insisted that K145 million (about $200,000) received as a political donation from the controversial supplier Zameer Karim of Pioneer Investments was returned as soon as the party discovered possible links to corruption.
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He has said corruption is not greater than before, this point indeed shows there is corruption and he is involved in it corruption us corruption no matter how big or small
Just PAY BACK the MONEY!!!
K145million to Malawians NOT Karim, the conmen!
If there is no corruption why is Maselema – Chiradzulu turn off dual carriage not completed. The road is less than four years old, but there are already many potholes. Low profile tyres are bursting everyday.
There’s corruption in each and every government and parastatal office. We have nowhere to run
Road Traffic Directorate
Immigration Department
Malawi Police Service
Department of Lands
ESCOM
And many more. Perception?
Mutharika must lead by example. Sizoti wina akayankhula mwati watukwana pomwe ana amayankhula zomwe amvakwa wamkulu. Mutharika akuyankhula zonyoza ena ndiye palibe vuto? Madonor akhala akunena kale zimenezo simunatsutse. Mwatsata pavunda khola chikhalire cho Mutharika ananenanso kuti corruption yafika poipa. .Koma ndiye upresident munaufunatu mbwiiye! Ndapakonda adasiyatu mkhonde.
The old man took this little boy from the boring seats of the telecommunications so he can test the fluffiness of major seats. Now the little boy wants the old man’s chair all to himself. If this little boy can betray his boss like that, it will be easy to betray us whom he doesn’t know. So we shouldn’t trust him with our votes.
Your name should be ZOBA not ZOBO KKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK u think like a chicken.
eeee abale tamusiyeni cilima naye tione ma style ake. ndikayesa nanu mukatonena zopanga izi ndi izo mbweee, mwapangapo cani than kukolola posalima the big fat accounts . mumangongawana, muli phee kaamba palibe angakudzudzuleni. panotu a malawi siofudyumala ai. zinatha. ngati cipungu anabwezedwa pa joni akukabisa ndalama za madam plofesa dr mrs peter munthalika monga simunanadabwepo???????????????????????????????????
musiyeni klawusi.
Just waiting for the day SKC will share the list of those emptying public coffers. There is so much unexplained wealth in this country. A sure sign that something is wrong
Wat abt the army contracts to hotel Victoria
The Ganis of Hotel Victoria have stolen billions through MDF!
The list is too big
Ganis and zameer karima are just tips of rotten ice bergs
Mr President, do the right thing and resign.
Mukuopa voti eti? Mwagwanayo.
APM is right. Would Chilima have talked about corruption if he had been chosen to lead the DPP
Mr President with all due respect please withdraw your statement. Corruption under DPP is worse. DPP is the most corrupt Party. It’s a shame that u are still in denial. The problem is that you do not connect with a common man therefore you do mot have any idea how we are suffering. You are surrounded with corrupt people. These people have became billionaires under your nose from dubious means. You are blind folded and being led astray.
It’s not about power , it’s about Malawians at large.
It’s chaos in Malawi. The Country is in autopilot.
If you cared enough before denying the grave situation in Malawi you would have made an effort to go and see for yourself in the government departments.
For instance your right hand man budget had figures which didn’t add up.
You cannot question that because of corruption.
There are issue at Escom, Macra, you do not conderm because these are one of DPP cash cows.
Do not think we are stupid.
Tiyeni nazo mu ululana timva zambiri chilima sanati mu wulana ..naJi mu December TINVA NAWO
Peter is right,Chilima is just power hungry
Kkkkkkkk APM and his son fighting for corruption honours. Who is financing UTM if not the same proceeds of corruption?
As usual in denial! Everyone knows corruptions is rampant cause its affecting our quality life while the corrupt are swimming in lavish lifestyles.
Bwana, when did you discover the PI was involved in corrupt activities? If indeed you have given back the money because it was part of proceeds of crime, then why aren’t you lodging a case of corruption for ACB to fully investigate and convict Karim. The fact that you were eager to give back the money means that you have already made up your mind that it was stolen money. If I were you Mr president, I would lock up Karim just for bringing your name and DPP’s name into disrepute. The fact that you’re reluctant pursuing the case, means that you’re protecting him and therefore yourself. Its just logic bwana. The more you deny it publicly the more suspicious it becomes and more you’re going to sink into the pick sand bwana.
One hand may give the money to Karim (Pioneer Investment) to blindfold Malawians that the money has indeed been given back but the other had will receive back the money. APM is the biggest thief in this country. Zangabweze ndalama izi. Zadzavomerapo kuti kuli katangale kuMalawi.
The problem with you Mr President is that you always say corruption is perception, but for those of us who work in public service we know that corruption has become a norm in many government offices.
Mr President if you are proud of the developments which DPP led government is doing now with high level of corruption it is simple logic that without corruption the 1000000 jobs would have been created without corruption. The roads in the north would have been completed, scarcity of medicine in government hospital would have been a thing of the past, Universities would have been build to accommodate all deserving students and quata system would have been abolished