Simbi bankrolls MCP to the tune of K700m
South Africa-based Malawian businessperson Ashanti Simbi Phiri financially supported the opposition Malawi Congress Party (MCP) for their elections bid in the May 21 Tripartite Elections to the tune of K700 million, Nyasa Times understands.
Simbi, who runs a construction and engineering firm Khato Holdings Limited, emerged as one of the top financiers of MCP according to the list of donors to the party seen by Nyasa Times.
The money is also being used to pay court costs for election challenged which MCP has mounted.
The business mogul is on record to have accepted being a donor to political parties and that he also give cash to governing Democratic Progressive Party, saying “ is the spirit that I have introduced in this life.”
The bankrolling of DPP and MCP has raised question in some quarters as they interpret it as a move of getting favours from those in power and then have no checks and balances from the main opposition.
Simbi’s Khato Civils came into the limelight when it signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with government to carry out three major projects to provide water to Lilongwe City from Salima, construction of toll gates and an international bus terminal in Lilongwe.
The three projects are valued at $1 billion (about K750 billion).
The country now has the Political Parties Act that oblige them to declare their sources of funding.
While MCP Secretary General Eisenhower Mkaka acknowledged that Simbi has offered some support to the party indicated that “his help had no conditions attached to it.”
Ulemu wanu Phiri, mumatiimilira wawa
Wow!
Big money buys undue influence; and that is not good for our so young democracy.
The new Parliament must consider putting reasonable limits on the amount of contribution. Otherwise we risk “state capture” regardless of which Party is in power.
Kumeneko nde kubwera akumudziiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii…………………………………….. please keep up and do more of best gestures like these! People from Central Region and Northern Region are rejected in this country by the regime…and your support will assist us more in accessing justice through the courts! I assure you, MCP will win this case just as it did with the Msungama election case…………….! The above is important because thus the best remedy to stop the stupid practice…………….!
No free lunch Bwana Mkaka.
I see no problem to that. He supports even ANC,EFF,DA in SA. Thats not news. Tiwuzeni zobela zisakho zili pati. Alamulirabe ndi ma vote a tepex????
So what …? Simbi is a Son of the Soil whenever he comes to his Village he will Pay Respect to Lazarus who is His Group Village Headman …Inuyo Amfumu akwanu atayima Nao pa U President Simungawapange Support. Enafe timatotumiza Ndalama Pa Mpamba Tambala Fund …Simutitchula?Ndipo tiripo ambiri Eni Chipanichi…
Now that you have told us who supported MCP can you also tell s about UTM and DPP?