SA expels Malawian diplomatic staff for illegal importation of alcoholic drinks

The South African Government has expelled Malawian diplomats in Pretoria for smuggling alcohol bought at duty free shops in that country, a development the government of Malawi has confirmed.

A statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation states that the diplomats and their families have been given 72 hours (three working days) to depart the Republic of South Africa.

Information Minister Gospel Kazako says bilateral relations still intact.

“The South African Government has taken this action in consonant with the provisions of the Article 9 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations of 1961. The Government of Malawi has since conveyed its regret to the Republic of South Africa on the conduct of the concerned diplomats,” reads the statement issued a short while ago.

It further states that the Government of Malawi will take appropriate actions on the expelled diplomats upon their return.

The expulsion of the diplomats and their spouses follow an investigation, by the South African Revenue Services (SARS) that uncovered a tax scam in which foreign diplomats were buying large volumes of alcohol at duty free retailers and sell it locally.

The investigation established that the South African Government lost R100 million due to the scam.

Some of the countries named in the probe include Rwanda, Lesotho, Ghana, Guiana, Malawi and Burundi.

Interestingly, the expulsion of the diplomats comes barely a few days after Chief Resident Magistrate Patrick Chirwa ordered that the Rainbow Nation should fly its witnesses in the Prophet Shepherd Bushiri’s extradition case into Malawi to testify before the Malawian courts.

But Malawi Government spokesperson Kazako, who is also Minister of Information, assured Nyasa Times in an interview that this notwithstanding, Malawi’s bilateral relationship remains intact.

“This will not, in any way, affect our bilateral relations with South Africa,” he said.

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Zimwanda
Zimwanda
2 years ago

Akabwerako ku Joni azafikila mu ma tarven. Time to revive tarvens i.e. Zingwix, Mbengwe, Limbe, etc. 1 million jobs across borders. Kupusa

Bulutu
Bulutu
2 years ago

This is what happens when employees are paid peanuts compared to their colleagues. The money malawian diplomats get is a joke. Our problem is taking into account malawian standards of living forgetting these people are in foreign lands.

Proud Malawian in Jozi
Proud Malawian in Jozi
2 years ago

I am personally not surprised, our commissioners couldn’t communicate properly on South African national TV when floods struck in our country. We could see these were political appointments. Come and see how dilapidated Malawi offices are in RSA. These people come here to get rich. The work ethos at Malawi offices are pathetic. Servant leadership should start here Mr President. Imagine the scandal of our officials busy buying beers to run businesses on the sideline. Zochitisa manyazi. Please install bank card swiping machines, they don’t like them but CASH because they want to steal. Who pays with cash these days?… Read more »

Mulopwana
Mulopwana
2 years ago

Nthawi yosossa azibwelako.

John mkandawire
John mkandawire
2 years ago

Thanks for that good news we need more information about it

John Kachapira
John Kachapira
2 years ago

Ochakwera, njoka soweta. Onyamata o dpp oli mkwatimu!!

Kuganiza
Kuganiza
2 years ago

This is very embarrassing and shameful. Good enough I believe they are coming back at their own costs, probably by road. This kind of behaviour cannot be tolerated and what government needs to do as soon as they set foot in Malawi is first withdraw their diplomatic passports, secondly it is likely that they still owe government money on loans, particularly motor vehicles. Government should confiscate the vehicles and finally with all due processes followed dismiss them from the service. Zotsilu zatichititsa a Malawi manyazi.

Cairo
Cairo
2 years ago

Rwanda, Lesotho, Ghana, Guiana and Burundi diplomats were also planted by APM according to Mswahili mambo. Hahahahahahaha!!

Wakwiya ndi kadeti
2 years ago

A Chakwera tidakuwuza kuti chotsani ma kadeti ku ma embassy ndi akuba. Lero akuchitsani manyazi kumagulitsa mowa. Let them come back and continue with the business. They abuse their status as diplomats. They are thieves. Diplomatic thieves. Prophet mudamupatsa diplomatic passport naye anali ndi njira zake zobera. Zamanyazi. Mukabwerako muziti pa galawundi sipali bwino. Really? Mupamvadi kuwawa mukabwera.

Justice for all
Justice for all
2 years ago

Eish our country now it’s too way much corruption anywhere zamanyazi

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