An ‘Order of God’ that lied to Malawians

For Brother Aidan Clohessy and the St John of God Order in Malawi, it does not rain—it pours.

Not more than a fortnight ago, Nyasa Times in collaboration with the Centre for Investigative Journalism in Malawi (CIJM) and Mail on Sunday (MoS) of Ireland reported of Misean Cara, a charity that has supported St John of God order in Malawi, suspending  aid to St John of God of  over €2 million (about K1 200 000 000.00), over “allegations of abuse against a former school principal and member of the order”—Brother Aidan Clohessy.

And, on Monday, Nyasa Times, through a report of investigative journalist Micheal O’Farrel, learnt that Brother Aidan had actually lied to get funding from Germany.

It is said that the funding that Aidan received from Germany, provided by more than 300 000 citizen donors, the EU and other stakeholders is questionable.

And one of these organizations is Kindernothilife (KNH).

Collins Mtika, of the Centre for Investigative Journalism in Malawi (CIJM)  said it is crucial that Malawian receivers of foreign aid should be thoroughly analysed.

Said Mtika: “They have done us more bad than good in all morals of society. As a country, and a sovereign state, we should do better. We should not be taken as puppets.”

Mtika, a former investigative journalist for Nyasa Times has also contributed to trainings of investigative reporters in Malawi among them Serah Makondetsa, Enelless Nyale, Bobby Kabango, Rex Chikoko, Lameck Masina, Tamanda Matebule and Josephine Chinele.

The two were at Amabhughane for Centre of Investigative Journalism and in Botswana respectively.

KNH is one of Germany’s most prominent NGOs with an annual budget of €56m provided by more than 300,000 citizen donors, the EU and Germany’s government.

Since 2007, when Brother Aidan first signed a contract with KNH, it has provided over €1.3m to support SJOG’s child-focused programmes in Malawi.