Mutharika’s step son, aide negotiate jet deal without knowledge of Malawi govt

President Mutharika step son, Tadikira Mafudza along with the Principal Secretary for the Presidential Initiative on Safe Motherhood and State House , Chimwemwe Chipungu  reportedly  got $250,000 for the illegal jet deal, Nyasa Times understands.

Tadikila now using Mutharika’s surnmae and Chipungu  found themselves on the wrong side of the law when they invited a South African business tycoons who owns jet and started negotiation with them, saying Malawi government had sent them to strike a deal for the jet purchase .

This was done without the knowledge of government officials and the President himself.

State House aide Martin Nkasala is reportedly to have been dragged into meeting the tycoons in their jet ignorantly of the bootleg deals.

The cash is said to have been pocketed by Chipungu, a Mr Mtilatila and a Mr Kandulu.

Information gathered by Nyasa Times indicates that, a businessman Limumba Karim, who was also also charged in cashgate related cases, acted as a link who knew friends who have jets and told them that Malawi government was looking for a jet for the President, and he would link them with people who are close to President Mutharika if they guarantee a sweetener of the business.

This is when Karim involved the services of Chipungu and briefed him of the deal.

To bring a State House face to the deal, Chipungu  dragged in Nkasala  and the First Lady’s on. Nkasala is reportedly fuming after realised that he was linked unsuspecting to the  deal.

Chipungu,Nkasala and Mutharika’s step son went ahead to board the jet to test fly it to Mzuzu before the government as alleged could purchase it.

But before  they left, there was drama when State House security detail wanted to prevent President’s step son from  boarding the unknown jet.

Intelligence boys at the airport informed spy  chief  Nicholous Dausi of the development and later Dausi called the President to find out if he knew who was with his son.

According to KIA officials,  Chipungu wanted to involved the name of former presidential special aide Ben Phiri among those that were to see the jet on behalf of government but our  investigations have found that by then Phiri had just arrived from South Africa and was not even aware of this illegal move being propelled Chipungu.

Police sources said they formally questioned Chipungu but cops are coy to act, waiting directives from powers that be.

When contacted for comment, Chipungu briefly said “allegations.”

Follow and Subscribe Nyasa TV :