NAC vehicle cost K55m: OPC defends Kachali over ‘snatching’
The report that Vice President Khumbo Kachali had grabbed vehicles from the National Aids Commission (NAC) and from Ministry of Health was “politically motivated” and given by disrguntled staff who have been on top of corruption deals, a top official in the Office of President and Cabinet has said.
National Aids Commission Board minutes indicate that the vehicle that was bought K55 million in November 2011 and it irked donors who threatened to suspend the multi billion support that NAC gets from Global Fund.
Minutes indicate that the National Aids Commission has twice defied the donor conditions including purchase of vehicles that led to another suspension after buying another VX8 for its Executive
Director.
The Board resolved to sale the vehicle and no buyer was found and as donors were threatening to pull out funding, the Office of the President and Cabinet withdrew the vehicle from NAC and offered to pay the money back for programmes.
“Right Honourable Kachali has nothing to do with allocation of vehicles, niether the procurement and distribution of vehicles. OPC as one would recall withdrew similar vehicles from former ADMARC Chief Exceutive Charles Matabwa, former ESCOM CEO Kandi Padambo and Gwanda Chakuamba when he bought a BMW X5 against Government regulations,” said the OPC source.
NAC has been failing to support Community Based Organisations due to lack of support and even supply of ARVs have been erratic and suspension of any aid would put over 400 000 Malawians on ARV at risk.
“There is nothing like grabbing of vehicles anywhere, the Office of the Vice President is quite high to go and look out for vehicles, that’s an administration duty,” he added saying those that were
spreading rumours were angry that Kachali had blocked their attempts to loot especially at the Ministry of Health.
On vehicles to the his office, the source said only three cars were allocated to the Office of the Vice President and not nine as suggested by the reports.
“The vehicles are one utility vehicle for Ministers which he was entitled as he never could get two since he opted to use Vce Presidency benz, one vehicle which is used by his Secretary at the
Ministry of Health and Personal Assistant for the same and the third one is only borrowed when he is travelling,” said the source.
The Office of the Vice President was almost killed by President Bingu wa Mutharika and has only six vehicles, making it the poorest office at Capital Hill.
“The Vice President has only two vehicles for use, both of the allocated by OPC and not NAC or Ministry of Health, Her Excellency graciously borrowed the office a Mercedes from State House making the vehicles 3. Even his convoy has only five vehicles which are a Police car, one security vehicle in front, one he uses, another for back up and another for his security. He is the Vice President with modest means of transport,” said another person at the Office of the Vice
President.
“His personal assistants at the Office of the Vice President use bus to go to office or hire personally Toyota Corrollas to follow him to oustide functions, which is pathetic but they all understand,” said
another source at the office.
Vice President’s press secretary Kondwani Munthali said most of the reports ‘were illusions than reality” that it was not worth giving them credence, saying those that knew the Vice President and his staff challenges in operations could not have decided to create lies.
“I have to use a coachline or jump into security vehicles when we are travelling outside to Lilongwe. I use public transport to office and those that know me can tell you that much,” said Munthali adding that the Vice President borrowed the other two older assistants his own personal vehicle.
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