PAC rejects claims on Malawi Assets Director

The parliament’s Public Appointments Committee (PAC) has rejected claims that it was warned about director of Public Assets Declaration Christopher Tukula’s criminal record before his appointment.

Belekanyama: o one forewarned us against appointing Tukula
Belekanyama: o one forewarned us against appointing Tukula

Tukula, a lawyer by profession, was arrested on Friday evening for allegedly interfering with investigations into the ongoing cases on Cashgate, the plunder of public resources at Capital Hill.

There has been reports that PAC was warned that Tukula had “cases which would obviously come out”.

But the PAC Chairperson Lingson Belekanyama argued that no one warned them against any person they interviewed for the post.

“That’s not true. At what stage can someone bring out such an issue when there is very little time between short-listing the candidates and interviewing?

“And in any case, what would be the interest of the person claiming to have tipped us? There is no possible way of someone warning PAC on anyone’s recruitment. In fact, there is no space for such a thing to happen. So, no one forewarned us against appointing Tukula or anyone else,” contended Belekanyama in an interview with a daily paper.

He also said PAC has no say regarding the progress of the office following Tukula’s arrest.

The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) is also yet to charge Tukula.

Tukula, who was expected to appear before court for a possible bail application on Monday was not available at the court.

When asked of his client’s where about, his lawyer Raphael Kasambara just said: “These things are as a result of a process.”

Tukula’s arrest has sparked a heated debate in the country as the ACB was accused of making the arrest against a fresh court order to stop the same.

But Matemba said the purported fresh order was yet to be served on the bureau.

Tukula was hired about two months ago as director of the country’s controversial Office of Directorate of Public Assets Declaration an office set to oversee the enforcement of declaration of assets by public officers including the President and his Vice.

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edgar B Tamonde
9 years ago

Amalawi ziko lathu litukuka koma mukuziwilathu kuti munthuyu ndi mbava. Anthu ena asowelatu abale?anthu okhaokhao mukuziwana nao apaseni enawonso mpata alaweko naonso. Eeee kudzikonda,kaduka ndiziphuphu basi.

Mwiza
Mwiza
9 years ago

Just put in place a vetting process for people to be confirmed instead of the simplistic question- answer approach

John
John
9 years ago

Confusionists!

lufina
lufina
9 years ago

Belekanyama and PAC nonse mulibe mzeru mmutu wonenepawo. Next time be sober and do a good job. Aleke Banda, Tukula and many more crooks pass under your microscope. Don’t give Malawians a raw deal you useless people

Abiti Mtila
Abiti Mtila
9 years ago

But why should Kasambara be representing cash gate thugs while he is a thief himself? Does the law allow a suspect to defend another suspect? IF so if both are answering the same charge, what will be the out come out of the other cases?

gutierez
gutierez
9 years ago

thats the fire goofernment which i know, always hiring people whose integrity is in serious question!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

mabuluku
9 years ago

If he indeed intervined in the ongoing cashgate scandle then what next? Maunyolo basi but if he is not then iam to say ha ha ha ha ha. Ha ha ha

chatonda
chatonda
9 years ago

Hon.Belekanyama, how did you approve the appointment of Thoko Aleke Banda after he displayed no sense of qualifying for the post if you say you were not forwarned? Thoko Banda forwarned you that he was incompetent but you went ahead to approve the appointment. Do you know how to scrutinise a candidate or you were just approving everybody on the list? Tukula’s issue was in the papers and I remember some radios talked about his intelectual malaise but you went ahead to approve his job. What is this now? Who does the country blame apart from Tukula himself? Do not… Read more »

Mfwethu
Mfwethu
9 years ago

Belekanyama’s explanation on this issue shows that them as PAC knew something about this whole issue. How can he say no one can tip PAC? Even if the gap between selection and interviews is just a day, a tip can come either by phone or in person, so when he says its not possible what exactly does he mean? He should just accept that they erred because they were in a rush to put in anyone for political reasons rather than to help the country. And Tukula shouldn’t even have to wait to be fired, he should just resign honorably… Read more »

RealMalawi
RealMalawi
9 years ago
Reply to  Mfwethu

There is no honour in Malawi. so don’t expect such a thing.

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