Nawena feels Lipenga saved for political reasons
Thyolo Thava MP Lifred Nawena (independent) on Thursday said in Parliament that he was disappointed with the finding of the Special Cabinet Committee instituted to probe Minister of Finance Dr. Ken Lipenga in the K30 billion Malawi Revenue Authority (MRA) loan scam which cleared Lipenga.
The committee appointed by President Joyce Banda was chaired by Vice-President Khumbo Kachali and its members included Defence Minister Ken Kandodo, Water and Irrigation Minister Ritchie Muheya and Local Government and Rural Development Minister Grace Maseko.
Presenting the findings of the committe, Vice President Kachali told parliament that the Finance Minister “was not aware” that MRA borrowed money from some commercial banks.
But after he presented his report, Nawena told the House that he was not convinced with the outcome of the report.
“There is total lack of evidence to suggest that Finance Minister Lipenga was not aware,” the outspoken Nawena said.
“How can we pretend that Minister Lipenga was not aware when he was part of Business Committee at times and the MRA issue was discussed?” queried the lawmaker .
“ It’s very important not to take people for granted,” said Nawena “Is the Vice President’s conscience clear that he has told the truth and absolute truth?”
Kachali insisted Lipenga had no role in the illegal borrowing and has clean hands, saying he had no regrets to make for his report. The report also implicated former Secretary to the Treasury Joseph Mwanamvekha.
Lipenga came under fire recently when he admitted that MRA borrowed money from some commercial banks after denying the same in Parliament in February this year when the matter was first revealed by Balaka South MP George Nnensa, who is also president of the Malawi Forum for Unity and Development (Mafunde).
The Finance Minister, formerly of Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), is now an independent lawmaker but working with People’s Party led by President Banda.
