PP’s Mwenefumbo in tax scandal: Denies involving Malawi President’s son
Governing People’s Party second deputy secretary-general Frank Mwanafumbo on Sunday returning from a China is said to have had h three big LED TVs seized by Customs on arrival at Kamuzu International Airport with the South African Airways.
A source at the airport emailed Nyasa Times informing that Mwenefumbo wanted to evade tax on his three LED TV screens by using the VIP section.
The source informed that when customs officers confronted him, he responded that the TVs are for President Joyce Banda‘s son – Roy Kachale Banda – and that they are duty free as the president and her family are exempt from paying duty.
“The officers refused to buy this, and demanded a letter from the Office of the President and Cabinet (OPC),” said the source. Mwenifumbo could not produce the letter.
“He then declared the value of $250 each. The officers refuse to accept the valuation as it was too low and unrealistic, they asked for invoice which he could not produce. Customs officers then decided to seize the TV’s,” said the source.
But when Nyasa Times phoned Mwenefumbo on Monday morning, he denied having any intent to committing fraud.
“The truth is that I indeed came with three TVs and I declared at customs,” said Mwenefumbo.
“It’s all lies. The truth is yes I came with TV screens which I declared,” he insisted.
“These are cheap, cheap Konika TVs. On arrival I went to Customs woman to declare and the woman said I should get my rebate,” said Mwenefumbo.
He said President Banda’s son, Roy was not with him on arrival, but indeed they were together in China.
“We are in a season of character assassination and am not surprised with this and attempt to link my cheap TVs to the first family,” he added.
Mwenefumbo, who defected from Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), became controversial during the height of late Bingu wa Mutharika dictatorship when he publicly asked civil servants not to buy and read the country’s flagship newspaper, The Nation, because it was critical to the regime.
He later apologized for the remarks, claiming he was stampeded by the regime to make such a statement.
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