Concerned Businesspersons Deposit NAC Money Through Chief Secretary

Asks Anti-NAC Gate CSOs to Cancel Demonstrations 

The concerned Business persons finally return K5 Million Kwacha to National Aids Commission (NAC) through Chief Secretary on 24^th December 2014. The returned money is a pay back on behalf of First Laday’s initiative Beautify Malawi Trust (BEAM) following demands from Civil Society Organizations asking BEAM and Mulhakho Wa Lhomwe to return the money which they accessed from NAC through dubious means.

Barnett Chinsinga the leader of 10 business persons that contributed the funds confirmed to FM 101 Power that the group handed over the money through Chief Secretary George Mkondiwa and were accompanied by rights activist Robert Mkwezalamba of Human Rights Consultative Committee (HRCC) who signed the document with Chief Secretary.

Receipt Document

He said business people hope that following this development the planned demonstrations by Anti-NAC Gate CSOs who are demanding the return of the money to be canceled adding that if they don’t then they are having a hidden agenda.

“Yes we did that,” confirmed Chinsinga  “as of now what we know is that Robert Mkwezalamba is the one responsible for that, we went together with him” but declined to comment why they failed to accompany with five CSOs that are demanding the return of the money.

But he said “What I can add on issue about people who are not wishing well for Malawi, they should stop what they have prepared. They have been murmuring all these days that they want to do their demonstrations because of the money we have returned. So our appeal is to stop their demonstrations, if they will continue that means it was another issue may be they were doing such a thing because of political issues.”

He added that there is nothing which can make CSOs continue for demonstrations and urged Malawians to avoid resorting demonstrations saying demonstrators often became wild to the extent of destroying businesses.

HRCC executive director Robert Mkwezalamba confirmed of his presence and signing of the document indicating that the money has reached government. He said what remain is BEAM to officially write NAC explaining reasons for returning the money as required by NAC.

“Yes I was there, actually there was a document which we developed together with Chief Secretary” a document which he said himself together with Chief Secretary signed and Mr. Chinsinga signed on behalf of business people as a witness.

“NAC falls under the Office of President and Cabinet” he justified deposit of the funds with Chief Secretary on behalf of government adding that NAC officials were on Christmas and New Year holiday when the business grouping wanted to refund the money.

“The idea is to have the money sent to NAC and by the time we had wanted to give the money NAC said they are on holiday till fifth of January. So if you are looking at the process where after the fifth of January we can go back and get the money and pay to NAC or using government system that the Chief Secretary is just going to transfer the funds in the normal system to NAC, but at the end of the day we only want to see the outcome whether the funds have gone to NAC or not and that can be confirmed after holiday” he said

Meanwhile Anti-NAC Gate CSOs led by five institutions CHRR, Cedep, MANERELA, MANET + and MHEN maintains that neither Mulhakho Wa Alhomwe nor BEAM trust has refunded the money, as such demonstrations to press for their refund of money remain intact on 13^th January 2015.