Malawians Say ‘No’ to MSB Sale In Petition to Parliament, Finance Minister

• Petition was sent to Parliament and Minister of Finance asking government to stop plans to sell MSB

• Warns of series of national wide demonstrations and call for early elections if demands are not met in 60 days 

Petitioners (Bright Kampaundi in front)

Malawians against the sale of Malawi Savings Bank (MSB) have asked government to halt the ongoing process of selling the bank pending input from ordinary Malawians through National Assembly.

Government is insisting to sale MSB for financial problems the bank is going through and that it has debt amounting to K6 billion.

Rhino Chiphiko listening petitioners 

The petition from concerned Malawians has been presented Friday afternoon to the National Assembly then to Minister of Finance and Secretary to the Treasury.

The letter has warned that once the demands never met in 60 days people shall have no choice but continue with series of civil disobedience events that shall include; holding vigils at all MSB Branches and at Parliament building. 

Hon Chiphiko receiving petition
From Billy Mayaya

The petition also says people shall call for fresh elections to usher in a crop of new leaders who will serve people’s interests as citizens of Malawi.

When reading out petition, Billy Mayaya said Malawians are against the sale of MSB which they own because its assists them well since it has branches across the country.

Petitioners singing before petition
was handed to Parliament 

“We, people of Malawi, have come here to deliver the strong message to members of Parliament that Malawians say ‘No’ to the sale of Malawi Savings Bank (MSB)” he said

He mentioned that the plan to sale the bank without consulting Malawians is bleach of trust people placed in government because that is contravention to Constitutional fundamental principles which states that all powers of the state come from the people and that all people responsible for the exercise of power do so based on the trust of the people of Malawi through open, accountable and transparent government.

“The decision to sale MSB is ill conceived because we the people of Malawi have not been consulted on the matter. Malawi Savings Bank runs on our hard earned taxpayer money and yet our voices are being silenced.” Said Mayaya and asked government to halt any process to sell the bank pending the National Assembly to fully discuss the matter on people’s behalf in a transparent and accountable manner.

While the petition is claiming that plan to sale MSB is tantamount to Cashgate it also indicates that it is government move to push burden to taxpayer to pay off loans that businessmen with political connections owes the bank citing Muli Brothers who owe the bank up to K4 billion.

The petition demands that National Assembly debates and approve the recapitalization of MSB as well as summon Minister of Finance, Secretary to the Treasury and Public Private Partnership.

Petitioners at Civic Offices 

It further asks the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) to investigate the matter and that all politicians and businessmen who took the loans repay them failing which their assets must be seized forthwith.

At parliament Building, Chairperson for Budget and Finance Committee of Parliament, Honorable Rhino Chiphiko received the petition on behalf of Speaker while at Lilongwe Civic Offices, spokesperson for the ministry of Finance, Mr. Nations Msowoya received the letter on behalf of the Minister and Secretary to Treasury.

Nations Msowoya (right)

In his remarks, Hon Rhino Chiphiko welcomed the decision to present the petition to the National Assembly “Your coming here, shows that parliament is very important and has jurisdiction of these matter.”

Chiphiko said next week his committee is to be present the report in the house on the same issue following the 26th February 2015, motion moved by Dowa West legislature which placed Budget and Finance Committee to oversee the matter and make recommendations.

Fryson Chodzi reading out names of businessmen
who owe MSB

A total of five human rights activists have signed the petition namely; Gift Trapence of Centre for the Development of People (Cedep), Timothy Mtambo of Centre for Human Rights and Rehabilitation (CHRR), Billy Mayaya a Human Rights Defender, Fryson Chodzi of Forum for National Development (FND) and Bright Kampaundi of Youth and Childrens Rights Shield (YCRS).