Ombudsman probe Malawi Covid-19 funds
The public protector- Office of the Ombudsman – has launched an investigations over alleged lack of accountability, responsiveness and accessibility of services and funds under the K245 billion National Coronavirus (Covid-19) Response Plans and other interventions.
In a letter to Ministry of Disaster Management Affairs and Public Events, addressed to Principal Secretary, Elvis Thodi, dated July 1 2020, Ombudsman Martha Chizuma demands a detailed account on how the money has been used.
The Ombudsman wants the information by July 17, 2020.
The probe comes against the background of suspicion and allegations of abuse of funds by people entrusted with implementation of the response plan.
Reads the Ombudsman’s letter: “The investigations will take a bottom-up approach, whereby the office [of the Ombudsman] will be analysing the funds received by each of the district councils, city councils and other public institutions for Covid-19.
“In that regards the office will be monitoring the Covid-19 activities planned by the public institution, the activities actually carried out, effectiveness of those activities and observing any legal, policy or best practice gaps in the implementation of the same.”
Department of Disaster Management Affairs spokesperson Chipiliro Khamula said they have received the letter and that they were already compiling the financial reports to account for the funds pumped in by the Malawi government, local private sector and development partners.
Former Minister of Information Mark Botomani told Parliament that money was not abused and challenged the new government to probe the funds.
“You can even bring CIA to come and investigate us there will be no wrongdoing,” he said .
The deposed Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) regime had announced to increase loans under the Malawi Enterprise Development Fund that will help micro, small and medium scale businesses that have been seriously affected by the pandemic to 15 billion Malawi kwacha ($20.69 million) from 12 billion kwacha.
However, there have been reports that the Covid-19 funds have been abused and that top officials in the DPP have used it for wrongful self-enrichment.
Meanwhile, all 28 districts in Malawi now have confirmed coronavirus cases.
Epidemiologist Dr Titus Divala asked government to urgently institute measures to halt the further spread of the pandemic, whose figures continue soaring.
He said: “There is need to formulate a Covid-19 Bill, containing the key evidence-based approaches, finances, epidemic management structures up to community level, relationship to government departments, among others, and seek parliamentary mandate for the management of the pandemic.”
Malawi Health Equity Network executive director George Jobe also asked government to reinforce the Covid-19 guidelines set up by the Ministry of Health so that the country’s fight against the pandemic is effective.
On 20 March 2020, Covid-19 was declared a National Disaster in Malawi and on April 2 2020, the country registered its first three cases of coronavirus. This was followed by a lockdown announcement which was challenged in court.
The cumulative number of confirmed Covid-19 cases in Malawi as of Friday 1 402, including 16 deaths and 317 recoveries. The total number of active cases is 1069.
Commentators have appealed to the new administration led by President Lazarus Chakwera to show political will and give policy direction in terms of fighting Covid-19.
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Investigation ingoyambira pa live microphone ya Jappie and Bottoman and then go down from there………… ndizosabvuta! kikikikikiki
Remember Jappie and Botomani were caught on a live Microphone!…..
All what Mr Covid itsanana Chakwera knows is arresting innocent people and that’s all. This judicial coup president of yours is a shame to Malawi.
Please follow up with Jappie and Botomani.Do not waste a lot of time then go down to councils.
This woman applies the law very selectively. My hope is she does not do that and also hope she has the spine to recommend appropriate punishment and not treat an important issue like this with kids gloves! Imagine asking that individuals who facilitated the conversion of government agricultural implements (valued at $80m) into personal goods to simply apologize!!!!!!
what are you talking about??? kapena chizungu chikuvuta???
If there are donated funds that have been misused are the Covid 19 funds. Cars, plots have been bought using Covid 29 money. Soooooo sad.
ok probe also they alleged that they were giving out vendors of blantyre ,lilongwe,mzuzu and other cities 35,000 each but no one received that money up until today .
Chonde tionenetsetse kuti Jappie Mtuwa kaya Mfipa Mhango asathawe mdziko muno. I know this idiot has stolen a lot
Why is Botomani worried with the stolen money? This guy is surprising all. He has forgotten that he needed allowance from Jappie after they denied to have not received any money. FISI.
Ndalama zifufuzidwe
Chilima ndi JB,atengeledwe kuchilungamo
Analimbikitsa kufalikila kwakachilomboka
Health rights activists
Musakhale chete pamenepa
ngati mulipachoinadi
Mahopu anga Martha sopano! I just love you my crash 😘
Afufuzidwe bwino bwino DPP imaziwa Kuba.
The ombudsman’s office is right to account for covid-19 funds. But it’s about time the new govt starts taking covid-19 seriously. People’s lives are at risk and taking over the taskforce and appointing new people band giving it their direction should’ve been one of its top priority especially when people’s lives are at risks. The arrests and audit of statutory corporations could’ve wait. Protect people’s lives first. Covid-19 is real
hahaha, inunso inu. mayesa ndalamazi akatenga ndizimene agwiritsire ntchito. Mwadya nawo, sitikusiyani. mubweze ndalamazo we shud use to fight and respond to covid
They need the funds back so they can continue working on combating the pandemic.
They will need the funds to mitigate COVID-19
Martha, you are Malawi’s woman, don’t relent even if they say they are innocent these DPP cadets are evil they are just cheating do not listen go Martha go investigate them eish!
Bottomani the empty tin that likes to make noise. Mbuzi ya munthu. Iwe nde tinakumvera pa mic. Why bring CIA when the audio is here? Fisi
Didn’t Tones alliance say there is no COVID 19? Life was and is still normal in some churches in the Central region, at market squares, in the streets, shops, funerals, political rallies with no pressure to COVID19. This was a trigger to abuse of funds because the DPP government saw no reason to use the funds for intended purpose when people were in denial.
You are one idiot if that is your response. If people are denying the existence of covid-19 why not leave the funds intact alternatively why not use it for other government services? Someone who is intelligent wouldn’t answer like they way you did. I will forgive you if you are a kid but if you are an adult I fear for your wife and kids. As a wife I wouldn’t want a husband who thinks like you; and as a kid I wouldn’t want a father that thinks like a kid himself as he would drive the household over the cliff.
Really? Then it’s simple: let them be accountable. Palibe kuthawa yayi. Health workers who are at the very front of fighting the Covid-19 pandemic have not been paid (e.g. at Kameza in Blantyre), yet top government officials drew funds for ma fuel ndi ma allowance. Probe them!!!!!
Ukafunse ambuyako opanda Mano mkamwa aja, he was deliberately importing covid cases from TZ and SA in order to stop the election but he failed…importing a deadly disease in order to cling on to power is treason and APM should be arrested for 5hat….he is a real evil man who should rot in jail.
But make no mistake it is only God who is on our side and we will get through this pandemic with less fatalities and the devil and DPP will forever be ashamed.
mugwidwabe, zitsiru za anthu inu. mungoba ndalama a malawi kumavutika
@Mwini muzi , I agree with you that people politicised the whole issue. Every effort the DPP government did was thwarted to an extent of obtaining a court injunction. If money was diverted to fund Medef loans, then it can’t be theft because those who insisted that there was no COVID 19 started all this.
Zamani is another cadet idiot thinking like a headless chicken. Simunati, this is just the beginning of your end.
Which effort Mr Zamani? Inuyo wawa ndiye kuti a HRDC simunawavetse zomwe ankanena. HRDC sinakane lockdown ayi, iyo inanena kuti boma lisanapange lockdown lifotokoze kaye momwe layikila ndondomeko zomwe litapange pofuna kuwonetsetsa kuti amalawi asakafere ku lockdown chifukwa cha njala. Koma boma linalephera kufotokoza ndipo silinapite ku court chifukwa amadziwa kuti analibe ndondomeko zothandizila amalawi. Iwo amafuna lockdown pofuna kuthawa zisankho.
You are the one in total denial
Remember HRDC were granted an injunction and Mayi Cashgate publicly said kulibe COVID-19. This new government is busy sharing positions to share taxpayers money. They have no time for COVID-19 measures!!!
And DPP with full of Ministers were busy sharing the money meant for covid19, oh shame! mbwiyembwiye, munyololoka ulendo uno ndipo tikumangani simunati. Tinkachita kukunvani pa Microphone kikkkkkkk!
Whether UTM or JB denied the existence of Covid-19 or not, the fact remains that the previous Government allocated billions of Kwachas to fight Covid-19 pandemic, hence they must be accountable for what they did with the money. Why, for instance, are health workers at Kameza not paid their allowances when there were clear proclamations that some of the money were meant for them? Where is their deserved money?
At Kameza officers not paid coz wanganya pa district wagawana ma allowance okha. Asakeni akalowa baasi!!!
This idiot and jappie mhango were caught on microphone conniving how to steal these funds. Shouldn’t that be enough evidence to lock them up?
kkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk eh botimani ka kathyali psipsiti kusova yolakwika kale ndi japie.
koma guy inadutsa kuseli ija am sure imangozizimuka ikagona kuti koma ndikuva apazi ndi zoona!!! kkkkkkkk munya muona.
getu anatengako ma bilion angati paja?
kkkkkkkkk kucenjela manja ngati nkodzo wa mwana kkkkkkkkk