PP feels vindicated over DPP’s K90 billion theft
Malawi ruling Peoples Party (PP) says it is vindicated over its stand that the opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) is full of thieves that have plundered the country’s coffers with the latest reports of K90 billion which was stolen under its leadership.
The K90 billion comes after another K61 billion was allegedly pocketed by its former leader, the later president Bingu wa Mutharika.
Fresh media reports are that the DPP presided over the loss or mismanagement of over K90 billion through the Integrated Financial Management and Information System (Ifmis) abuse between 2009 and 2012.
An interim investigative audit report of the Ifmis that the National Audit Office (NAO) carried out between November 2011 and the first half of 2012, but was kept under wraps.
However, the DPP administration systematically discontinued the exercise before 14 more government departments/ministries were probed, suggesting that the plundered K90 billion—more than double the allocations to the Ministry of Health—could be small change compared to what may be the loss if the agencies that escaped the probe were factored in. This year’s budget for health is K42.4 billion.
PP deputy publicity secretary Ken Msonda took advantage of the revelations to scorn at the DPP.
“Revelations according to an interim investigative audit report of the IFMIS conducted by NAO that K90 billion was stolen under the DPP administration vindicates the Peoples Party and its leadership.
“Her Excellency Dr Mrs Joyce Banda and the PP leadership have been telling the nation that looting of public funds at capital hill started during the DPP regime; that the State President and her PP led administration is geared to fight corruption in Malawi. Unfortunately those in DPP who benefited from the looting deliberately twisted the story to mislead the nation for personal or political gains,” said Msonda
Msonda said it has taken the courage and willingness of President Banda and her PP led administration to get to the root cause of the looting.
“As a party, we are proud of our leader for courageously walking her talk in the fight against corruption in Malawi. We also applaud all peace loving Malawians, stakeholders, bilateral and development partners and the donor community for joining hands with the State President in the fight against corruption,” said Msonda.
Added Msonda: “Our beloved country could be likened to a patient who has been seriously ill for a long time. Doctors and Specialists acknowledge that the patient is indeed very sick but the root cause of his/ her sickness is not known. Miraculously, another Dr comes in and discovers the root cause of the disease, medication and measures are put in place to address the problem, eventually signs of a positive healing process are seen. In a surprise move, those who benefited from the sickness and the patient gang up to destabilize the healing process. Surely such a move raises eyebrows.”
Asked to comment on the matter DPP spokesman Nicholous Dausi swas evasive, saying the issue is “multifarious.”
Meanwhile, commentator Unandi Banda said DPP has lost the moral high ground to level what he called undue criticism on Joyce Banda and her People’s Party (PP) administration that has taken bold steps to deal with unfettered plunder that spilled over from DPP, the former ruling party that did nothing to stop the pilferage.
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