Mutharika says ‘cashgate’ to affect Malawi for 13 years: ‘IMF has told me’

Malawi President Peter Mutharika has warned effects of the infamous K30 billion plunder of public resources at Capital Hill dubbed cashgate is likely to affect the economy for the next 13 years.

“The IMF has told me the effects will be here for the next 13 years,” said Mutharika.

He was speaking in Chitipa at a political rally, winding up his two week stay in the north where no political party has no base there.

The Malawi leader however said Malawians should not despair because his administration was working round the clock to improve the economy in a bid to reduce the high cost of living prevailing in the country.

“Don’t give up, there is light at the end og the tunnel,” assured Mutharika.

He said the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has already told the government that it was going on a right direction economically.

“I therefore wonder when the opposition say we are going in a wrong direction yet they are not able to offer us alternatives. They say my one hour 28 minutes state of the nation address is empty, they are the once who are empty because they did not comprehend it,” he said.

In his speech, Mutharika picked up Malawi Congress Party president Lazarus Chakwera and Peoples Party founder Joyce Banda for podium political parties.

He gave a list of what the Democratic Progressive Party led government has achieved so far, lining up finished development projects and those on the cards.

Mutharika also gave instructions to Chief Secretary to government George Mkondiwa to fire immediately any health worker found stealing money even before the case goes to court.

He begged the opposition to support the K1.1 trillion national budget Finance minister Goodall Gondwe presented to the 193 strong House on Friday.