Tag archives: accountability

HRDC backs Parliament’s sweeping investigations — but warns 12 committees could stretch capacity too thin

By Nyasa Times News Desk

The Human Rights Defenders Coalition (HRDC) has thrown its support behind Parliament’s decision to investigate a string of pressing national issues, while cautioning that the planned 12 joint committees could run into serious challenges due to limited capacity, expertise and the risk of overlapping investigations. In a statement, HRDC chairperson Michael Kaiyatsa and national coordinator […]

Read full story — HRDC backs Parliament’s sweeping investigations — but warns 12 committees could stretch capacity too thin

Afidep warns Malawi Parliament: ‘Stop turning hearings into talk shows’

By Nyasa Times News Desk

The African Institute for Development Policy (Afidep) has warned that Parliament risks turning its public hearings into nothing more than political talk shows unless transparency is matched with real accountability. Afidep executive director Eliya Zu lu, speaking at an Open Parliament gathering in Lilongwe, challenged lawmakers to ensure that citizen‑engagement sessions actually lead to action, […]

Read full story — Afidep warns Malawi Parliament: ‘Stop turning hearings into talk shows’

Chakwera vows to fight Malawi ‘criminal enterprise’:  No sacred cows

By Nyasa Times Reporter

President Lazarus Chakwera  warned that government will move to recover all the stolen public funds, interdict all public officers  implicated in the thcontroversial K6.2 billion Covid-19 fund, whose audit has shown gross abuse, discipline them and then ban any business impilicated from any future government contracts. Chakwera issued the sterrn warning during a televised national […]

Read full story — Chakwera vows to fight Malawi ‘criminal enterprise’:  No sacred cows

HRDC calls for Malawi civil service overhaul

By Nyasa Times Reporter

Rights activists, the Human Rights Defenders Coalition (HRDC) is calling for a complete overhaul of the civil service following the plunder of K6.2 billion Covid-19 money by some civil servants. HRDC says there should be a complete overhaul of the civil service, investigation of all companies involved in unlawful activities, strengthening procurement systems and placing […]

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Malawi govt says HRDC ultimatum over K6.2bn abused Covid-19 money ‘misplaced’

By Nyasa Times Reporter

Government says it is surprising with the seven-day ultimatum issued by the Human Rights Defenders Coalition (HRDC) for the State to arrest abusers of the K6.2 billion Covvid-19 money. Minister of Information Gospel Kazako said President Lazarus Chakwera is the one who instituted the audit of the funds and the release of the report. He […]

Read full story — Malawi govt says HRDC ultimatum over K6.2bn abused Covid-19 money ‘misplaced’

‘Chakwera owes Malawians an explanation’: HRDC demands probe into ‘Covidgate’ companies

By Nyasa Times Reporter

Rights activists are demanding that the government should investigate and blacklist all companies that inflated prices for goods and services during the Covid-19 pandemic. In an audit report, it has been revealed that some companies inflated prices to benefit from the K6.2 billion Covid-19 money. One such company is a fumigation firm owned by Pastor […]

Read full story — ‘Chakwera owes Malawians an explanation’: HRDC demands probe into ‘Covidgate’ companies

HRDC demands Malawi army, police K6.2bn Covid feast report

By Nyasa Times Reporter

Rights activists, the Human Rights Defenders Coalition (HRDC) is demanding audited reports for the Malawi Defence Force (MDF) and the Police on the abuse OF K6.2 billion Covid-19 funds. Gift Trapence, chairperson of HRDC said they have noted that although the Malawi Police Service and Malawi Defence Force both received substantial amounts from the Covid-19 […]

Read full story — HRDC demands Malawi army, police K6.2bn Covid feast report

Parliament’ s PAC grills Dodma officials over K6.2bn Covid-19 money abuse: SPC Chikhosi no show

By Nyasa Times Reporter

Senior officials from the Department of Disaster Management Affairs (Dodma) had  a grilling session at parliament building in Lilongwe on Thursday when they appeared before the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament over the K6.2 billion Covid-19 money abuse. The officials including two directors were called to respond to the report by Ombudsman titled ‘Misplaced Priorities’. […]

Read full story — Parliament’ s PAC grills Dodma officials over K6.2bn Covid-19 money abuse: SPC Chikhosi no show

‘Pay back the money,’ face law: K6.2bn Covid-19 funds plunder well calculated move

By Nyasa Times Reporter

A powerful parliamentary committee has been informed how ministries literally fought for K6.2 billion Covid-19 funds soon after the money was released by the Reserve Bank of Malawi and according to the reading of an audit report, it  becomes apparent the plunder of Covid-19 funds was a well calculated move. Department of Disaster Management Affairs (Dodma) […]

Read full story — ‘Pay back the money,’ face law: K6.2bn Covid-19 funds plunder well calculated move

K6.2 billion audit slaps Presidential Taskforce: It failed on its duty

By Nyasa Times Reporter

The audit report on the K6.2 billion Covid plunder under the watch of President Lazarus Chakwera has faulted the presidential taskforce on Covid failing “in its duties to act on the procurement of personal protective equipemtn (PPEs) of K850,000,000.00 by the Ministry of Health and Central Medical Stores Trust. In essence the report exposes Health […]

Read full story — K6.2 billion audit slaps Presidential Taskforce: It failed on its duty

HRDC, DPP  tell Chakwera no sacred cows over Covidgate: ‘Use law to deal with Covid funds abusers’

By Nyasa Times Reporter

Rights activists are calling on President Lazarus Chakwera to use the law to deal with the perpetrators of  K6.2 billion Covid-19 response funds from Treasury amid a public outcry. The Human Rights Defenders Coalition (HRDC) has since asked Chakwera not to shield culprits in the abuse of K6.2 billion Covid-19 funds. HRDC has made the […]

Read full story — HRDC, DPP  tell Chakwera no sacred cows over Covidgate: ‘Use law to deal with Covid funds abusers’

Parliament’s PAC meets Ombudsman over Covid funds abuse

By Nyasa Times Reporter

The Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on Tuesday met Ombudsman Martha Chizuma at the start of an inquiry into the  alleged mismanagement of K6.2 billion meant for the fight against Covid-19. The committee engaged Chizuma to get more on what she found in her report dubbed “Misplaced Priorities.” Shadreck Namalomba,  Chairperson of the committee , […]

Read full story — Parliament’s PAC meets Ombudsman over Covid funds abuse

Chakwera informed K6.2bn Covid-19 money abuse report complete, calls for release

By Nyasa Times Reporter

President Lazarus Chakwera has ordered auditing institutions to immediately release the K6.2 billion Covid-19 response funds abuse report. The call comes at a time Malawians are demanding why the process of releasing the report seems to have stalled. Chakwera says he expects auditing institutions to expedite the process of releasing to the public, a report into […]

Read full story — Chakwera informed K6.2bn Covid-19 money abuse report complete, calls for release

Nsanje District Council engages partners on cleared K842m audit queries

By Nyasa Times Reporter

Nsanje District Council has started engaging its development partners in the district on the outcome of the audit queries amounting to K842 million from the Auditor General’s office in the spirit of promoting good governance. The fficials, including chiefs’ representative, financial service committee member and the council chairperson engaged journalists in the district recently to […]

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HRDC gives Chakwera 21 days to release K6.2bn ‘Covidgate’ report or face demos: ‘Talk is empty, act!’

By Nyasa Times Reporter

Human Rights Defenders Coalition (HRDC)  has given President Lazarus Chakwera 21-day ultimatum to release an audit report  on the expenditure of K6.2 billion Covid-19 funds. HRDC chairperson Gift Trapence has said if government does not comply with the ultimatum, the coalition will mobilise Malawians to be on the streets to hold mass demonstrations nationwide. “As per […]

Read full story — HRDC gives Chakwera 21 days to release K6.2bn ‘Covidgate’ report or face demos: ‘Talk is empty, act!’

HRDC launches ‘pay back our money’ campaign,  demands Covid-19 money looting report

By Nyasa Times Reporter

Rights activists are demanding that authorities immediately release a report on the alleged abuse of K6.2 billion Covid-19 money. The Human Rights Defenders Coalition (HRDC) says delays in releasing the report is raising eyebrows. At least a month has elapsed since revelations came out that funds amounting to K6.2 billion were mismanaged at the Department […]

Read full story — HRDC launches ‘pay back our money’ campaign,  demands Covid-19 money looting report

Malawi army has not misappropriated any Covid-19 funds, says General Nundwe: K276bn billed for guarding Bingu Stadium

By Nyasa Times Reporter

Malawi Defence Force (MDF) Commander General Vincent Nundwe has  dismissed allegations that he has been interdicted over allegations of abuse of Covid-19 funds, saying he does not head any cluster and that MDF has not misappropriated any funds. In his address on February 14 2021, Chakwera directed that all cluster heads be suspended for failing to […]

Read full story — Malawi army has not misappropriated any Covid-19 funds, says General Nundwe: K276bn billed for guarding Bingu Stadium

Chakwera says Covid-19 funds forensic audit to take a month:  DCs, others’ interdiction formalised

By Nyasa Times Reporter

President Lazarus Chakwera has  said his order for the interdiction of some controlling officers, over accountability of K6.2 billion Covid-19 response funds  has been effected according to the law pending investigations. Delivering his seventh televised National Address on the War on Covid-19 from Kamuzu Palace in Lilongwe on Sunday, the President  said the forensic audit will […]

Read full story — Chakwera says Covid-19 funds forensic audit to take a month:  DCs, others’ interdiction formalised