Chakwera Accuse Govt of Cashgate Report manipulation, politicizing Cashgate Prosecution Process

Chakwera Accuse Govt of Cashgate Report manipulation, politicizing Cashgate Prosecution Process

The Leader of Opposition in Parliament and Malawi Congress Party (MCP) leader Hon. Dr. Lazarus Chakwera says government “manipulated” a Baker Tilly Cashgate Audit Report now in the public hands and that the process of prosecution of people involved has been politicized.

A Baker Tilly cashgate Audit report was made public and Minister of Justice and Constitution Affairs Hon. Samuel Tembenu when presenting the report to Minister of Information last month indicated that the report was intact as was presented to the Auditor General by Baker Tilly itself.

But when interacting with the media in Lilongwe on Wednesday evening, the MCP leader Dr. Lazarus Chakwera said Cashagete report was manipulated and that government is not properly handling the cashgate cases.

Though he did not come so clear to specify by citing where the report is indicating any discrepancy from the original Baker Tilly Cashgate Audit report and the report in circulation, he said in Chichewa that “Ngati tifuna chilungamo chenicheni chazinthu zonse, panafunika kuti ndondomeko yonse yofunika pazinthu izi, ngakhale a Malawi akuti tipatseni zakuti, tiuzeni zakuti, zizikhala zotsatidwa bwino molingana ndi malamulo adzikolino. Tonse timafuna atiuze zidayenda bwanji maina adakhala bwanji, koma zimaonetsa poyera kuti ukawerenga Script ija zimene zakhala highlighted ndizinthu zimene zikukhudzana ndi wakuti wakuti” meaning (For the truth of the matter to be known, proper process and laws of this country were supposed to be followed though there was demand and growing interest of every Malawian to know contents of the report. We all wanted to know who are involved and what happened but this report is only highlighting things that are associated with some individuals)

 “We all want the truth and it does not matter whether the person involved belongs to MCP or not, this is because we are interested in the public money which was stolen and MCP cannot back anyone even if that person was associated with MCP” said Chakwera

On how government is handling Cashgate prosecution process he said although government has stepped up prosecution of Cashgate cases following the release of the Cahsgate report, the process “seems extremely slow and heavily politicized.”

He therefore demanded “Justice of color blind” as government is pursuing the matter, commit to conduct the audit from 2005- 2012 to ensure that all cases of corruption are prosecuted and stepping up of efforts to curb on-going corruption in government institutions.

Chakera also raised number of issues that are affecting Malawi and how his party intends to move forward after losing elections this year.

He noted with concern that it is now four month into new financial year of 2014/2015 without implementation of FISP programme which he said the delay is likely to affect the productivity in the agricultural sector. He added that this might be worsened by Kwacha depreciation as farm inputs will be costly high.

“If we miss agriculture, we are deliberately extending the lean periods we normally experience.” He warned, while calling government to commence FISP programme immediately and address problems usually associated with FISP.

Chakwera also mentioned that he is disappointed as the President of Malawi Congress Party and Leader of Opposition in Parliament that the pace of implementing government programmes targeting poor is too slow, and heavily biased towards the already privileged.

He urged government to serious address issues of increased cost of living, Lack of financial prudence due to political appointments of “army of presidential advisors and members into parastatal boards,” security breakdown, need to offer reasonable pay hike to junior staff members and resolve the industrial strikes in judiciary and Ministry of Education are.

However, Chakwera said MCP has put aside issues and grievances surrounding tripartite elections and chose to put interest of people first for Malawi to move forward.