The Malawi Government here-by issues a statement in light of misrepresentations of facts and issues that dominated the social electronic media particularly the face-book in recent times. It should be noted that Her Excellency the State President, Dr. Joyce Banda has tirelessly taken the lead in the fight against corruption at all levels as has been demonstrated in every State of the Nation Address ever since she ascended to the presidency. Various cases abound. In June this year, she unequivocally championed the need to review the IFMIS platform. This determination was duly communicated to the British High Commission as well as the European Union –E.U. head of delegation. On 7th September, 2013 Her Excellency, Dr. Joyce Banda, on the occasion of the Economic Association of Malawi (ECAMA) Annual Conference, reiterated her stance to review the Fiscal Management System - IFMIS and delivered a stern warning to public officers that indulge in corruption to refrain from the malpractice. The President also informed the Conference of her administration’s commitment to fast track the review of the Assets Declaration Bill. ACTIONS TAKEN ON CORRUPTION ON-SLAUGHT On 16th September, 2013, the President convened a meeting with her top officers of the national security cluster in response to the shooting of budget director, Mr. Paul Mphwiyo and on the same day, she appointed Mr. Nelson Bophani- Deputy Inspector General, based on his vast expertise in criminal investigations in the field of fraud and fiscal crimes. To date, more than 68 arrests have been effected, 33 bank accounts have been frozen and various properties acquired dubiously have been attached. The Assets Declaration Bill was passed in the last sitting of parliament. Another development involved cabinet dissolution that subsequently led to exclusion of some Cabinet Ministers including the Minister of Finance. It is also worthwhile reminding the nation that a former Cabinet Minister suspected of playing a role in the shooting of the Budget Director, Mr. Mphwiyo is remanded in prison. 18 cases have since been brought to court on various charges, international forensic audit experts are on the ground working on fiscal malpractices. The Government of Malawi has thus drawn a matrix of action to manage the situation. MR. VOICE MHONE/VOMA INVESTMENTS We are appealing to the Civil Society Organizations to desist using Mr. Mhone as a lead spokesperson because his name is compromised with one of the first ever fraud case at the Ministry of Agriculture in 1997. The mode of theft was as follows:- 1. Payment through a syndicate by a number of accounting staff in the Ministry’s cash office, main accounts and the accounts section at the Department of Agricultural Research. 2. The payment vouchers and cheques were being authorized and approved as well as cheques being signed, money drawn from banks as payment for stationery supplied to the Ministry and the Research Department when in fact the stationery was not supplied at all. 3. The scum was procedurally uncovered through a routine audit on procurements at the Ministry’s headquarters and department of Agricultural Research headquarters. The Ministry’s Internal Audit team conducted the audit (1996-98). 4. Large sums of money were lost through the malpractice. Payments being made to these officers themselves through their companies for goods not supplied. Mr. Mhone still has an indelible track record of fraudulent payments and CSO’s case will surely be compromised. In addition, Mr. Mhone has cases with Malawi Housing Corporation in 1998 due to accusations leveled against him by neighbours in Area 18. The regional management had to intervene and all this is on record. CONCLUSION It is envisaged that the existing IFMIS platform that has been in existence since 2005 will be inspected by International Inspectors once the upgrading process has been completed. In addition, it should be noted that Her Excellency, President Joyce Banda through the Joyce Banda Foundation International is currently supporting 3,500 secondary school students; 350,000 female entrepreneurs have been provided with business opportunities, 850 youths mobilized and supported, 350 university students sponsored, ten of which are medical students, 25,000 children have been enrolled in 30 orphan care centers. The Joyce Banda International also runs one of the few free secondary schools in the country. It should also be stated that the Foundation is currently constructing a new school in Mpemba, Blantyre, upon soliciting MK100million loan from commercial banks. It is therefore, unfair to assume that the President has been reluctant in the fight against corruption. In fact, the State President has taken the lead in this battle and her Excellency’s actions have since surpassed all her predecessors’ records. We are calling on all citizens to be patient and wait for the whole judicial process to be exhausted and completed; otherwise the present public statements will jeopardize investigations
Posted on: Thu, 21 Nov 2013 05:15:51 +0000
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