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| Mutharika shaking hands with Mbendera |
Malawi Electoral Commission Commissioner’s audience with President Peter Mutharika on Tuesday reached to a peak when the State President expressed his displeasure with reports that some MEC Commissioners have embezzled funds.
MEC Commissioners had an audience with President Peter Mutharika at Kamuzu Palace on Tuesday 12th January 2015 where the commission made a formal presentation of 2014 Tripartite Election Report.
Mutharika did not mince words over alleged K1.6 billion looted at MECM “Mr. Chairman, whilst my Government is ready and willing to support the Commission, I am very concerned by reports of financial mismanagement and lack of probity within the ranks of the Commission which have been brought to my attention from time to time.” he said
“It is important that independence and accountability go hand in hand. Your credibility as Commissioners gets eroded by the persistent reports we read concerning lack of financial probity within the Commission. That in turn does very little to inspire confidence in Malawians who offer themselves to run for Public Office if the men and women who must make a final decision regarding their fate have doubtful credibility”
Mutharika therefore appealed to the Commission “to address and resolve all issues of concern in a manner which is transparent so that nobody harbours any doubt regarding your credibility as Electoral Commissioners.”
However, speaking in an interview immediately when the meeting ended, Mbendera said the issue was blown out of proportion and that those who alleged any mismanagement of funds at the institution lacked evidence.
Mbendera said the President was speaking of what people are continuously saying on the matter but “It is not true that there was massive looting” at MEC since appointment of the current Commissioners.
“We are and we were able to account for every allegations made by auditors” said while adding “There was no money lost at MEC”
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