Prevailing Economic Hardships Opportunity For Malawians

The Malawi Investment Trade Centre (MITC) says the prevailing economic downward spiral offer Malawians more opportunities and that if well utilized may result into growth of businesses and the whole economy.

Kumbemba 

Chief Executive Officer for MITC Clement Kumbemba observed that Malawians are failing to see opportunities the prevailing situation has and instead, the foreign investors are the ones making good use of it.

He emphasized that the country’s economy will grow and possibly end some of the problems if the local private sector take advantage of the weakening Kwacha and many other current hurdles through increased production, exports and investments.

“Well, let me say that this is a perfect time for Malawi to fiercely market its opportunities. Many countries in the world developed through private sector capital, and in Malawi most of what you see as gaps are in fact opportunities.” He said

“People talk about the sliding of kwacha and the best way to stabilize Kwacha is basically to pop up production in Malawi, let’s produce so that we are able to export. And the more we export taking advantage of the weakening Kwacha the economy will grow.” Said Kumbemba

In Energy for example, he said “We are seeing more expression of interest in energy by foreign investors because there is a gap and this country has many energy sites. So some of what we see as Malawians hurdles may in fact be what investors are coming here for.” 

Bwaila Media Club, Super Sakuwa Steel Renovates Police Houses

Bwaila Media Club and Super Sakuwa Steel Limited Company renovates roof tops of two police houses at Mtsiriza in Lilongwe

Two flats roof tops remained open for years after wind damage and no immediate response was made by Police Department.

This forced Police officers who lived in the two houses to vacate to other places. But they can now return, thanks to a group of Journalists in the Central Region ‘Bwaila Media Club’ who facilitated the renovation of the two houses.




Bwaila Media Club facilitated the  roofing materials which includes 100 iron sheets worth K3.8 million from Super Sakuwa Steel Limited company to renovate the houses.

Kamphika 

“We are very thankful of this support. And we thank Bwaila Media Club for sourcing this donation from Super Sakuwa.” Said Senior Deputy Commissioner of Police, Officer In charge Quartermaster Leniford Kamphika

Kamphika explained that immediately when officers relocated far from the houses, the police experienced number of challenges especially when such officers were needed for urgent matters.

“With the renovation, officers will be together at this camp and whenever there is need they will be called at a short notice as a result it will have an impact on the crime prevention and detection” said Kamphika

Chithonje 

Sales Executive for Super Sakuwa Steel Limited company, Enoch Chithonje said Super Sakuwa supported Bwaila Media Club in renovating the houses because their company understand important role Police play in the society.

“For Police officers to effectively work they need good accommodation, and as partners in development we know we can work as a team in developing our country by support our Police” said Chithonje

Bwaila Media Club Chairperson Peter Makawa said the media has role to play in society apart from writing news.

“As media practitioners, we know our job is basically to report issues that are affecting the society, but we should not only limit our self to that but we can as well reach out to people and support those that are in need.

We saw that those police officers who were affected they were in need. We waited to see how police was going to react and we all saw that these houses were taking long to be roofed again. So we decided to approach Super Sakuwa Steel Limited to support Police by roofing these houses.” He said

“We know that when police officers are together at one place they can quickly respond to any call that requires their action” said Makawa while adding that the group also wanted to ensure that police officers live in good and decent houses in Lilongwe.

Cashgate Case: State Seeks Withdrawal Of Kalonga From Katengeza Case

Lilongwe High Court 

Leonard Kalonga conviction of money laundering has set ground for the state to apply for his withdrawal from Angela Katengeza case. 

Katengeza, who owns Faith Construction, is jointly accused with former Deputy Director in the Ministry of Tourism, Leonard Kalonga for the siphoning of K105. 6 million. 

The High Court in Lilongwe has received an application on Thursday from the state, seeking withdrawal of cashgate convict Leonard Kalonga from the case he jointly accused with Angela Katengeza 

This follows Kalonga conviction of money laundering of K3 billion whose particulars of the offense are the same with that which were jointly charged with Angela Katengeza on second count of money laundering. 

"According to the law section 131 of Criminal Procedure and Evidence Code, you can not proceed prosecuting that person. If you have been convicted or acquitted, on an offense which has same facts of a similar offense." said Anti-Corruption Bureau Deputy Director General Reyneck Matemba in an interview 

Matemba said proceeding with prosecution of Kalonga together with Katengeza would have been unconstitutional

"That is why we came here to apply for the withdrawal of Mr. Kalonga because he has already been convicted of the same offense of which he was jointly charged with Angela Katengeza" said Matemba

However Katengeza continue to plead not guilty

Now Katengeza charge has been amended as the prosecution has filed a fresh charge sheet which contains one count of money laundering. 

The case has been adjourned to to 8th of September

Leonard was charged of money laundering of whose particulars of his offense are the same with that which were  jointly charged with Angela Katengeza on second count of money laundering. 

The state was applying for the removal of Leonard Kalonga because he has been convicted of that offense. 

However Katengeza continue to plead not guilty

Now Katengeza charge has been amended as the prosecution has filed a fresh charge sheet which contains one count of money laundering. 

The case has been adjourned to to 8th of September 2015

Reviewed Minines And Minerals Act To Parliament in November

Malawi Government says, the reviewed Mines and Minerals Act will possibly make its way into the National Assembly this year. 

Msaka

Minister of Natural Resources, Energy and Mining, Hon. Bright Msaka says the review and all other processes including consultations have been completed 

He said the reviewed act is part of number of integral initiatives his ministry is implementing that are aimed at reforming the mining sector to sustainably meet the expectations of Malawians.

“The Mines and Minerals Act review is underway, the process of consultation was completed the draft bill is currently with the Ministry of Justice. In our discussion we are hoping that that bill can be before parliament during November meeting of parliament” he said

"Apart from reviewing the Mines and Minerals Act; we are also reviewing the Mining Fiscal regime; Establishing a geo-data management centre in order to increase on line access to geoscientific data at Geological Survey Department. 

We are Establishing a mining cadastre system at Mines Department in order to increase efficiency and transparency in the allocation and management of mineral tenements; we are Building capacity in  the Environmental Affairs Department to monitor environmental issues resulting from mining activities"

Msaka further said government is Reviewing the curriculum in the University especially in mining related programmes in order to produce high quality human resources needed by the mining sector; and that Geological mapping of the country to commence in 2016 with funding from the French Government.

"These initiatives are aimed at reforming the mining sector to sustainably meet the expectations of Malawians." Said Msaka 

It is also envisaged he said "that probably it might be a god idea for the government to establish a company as we had done before. To be having shares in some of the lucrative mining ventures on behalf of people of Malawi. So that people of Malawi are participants of in the share holding of various mineral investments. So there are a lot of work to be done by government. We will continue to work with the industry but more focusing on the benefits that Malawi government as well as people of Malawi can make from our mineral wealth.”

The minister also said as pert of reforms in the sector government will soon join the Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative (EITI) in order to promote transparency in the extractive industry. 

Cashgate Case: Kalonga Bail Revoked

Lilongwe High Court 

The Lilongwe High Court has revoked bail of a cashgate convict Leonard Kalonga and has since been sent to Maula prison pending his sentence.

Kalonga, accused of defrauding government money amounting to K3 billion between April and September 2013, has on Wednesday pleaded guilty and got convicted before Justice Fiona Mwale to three counts of money laundering.

Kalonga was arrested on cashgate following his acquisition of 6 Scania Marcopolo buses using government money. However his second charge indicates that the buses belong to Paul Mphwiyo. The charge states,  Kalonga facilitated, a baited and aided laundering of K520 million, between July and September 2013, the proceeds which were used in acquisition of the 6 buses for Paul Mphwiyo. 

Other charges includes conspiring to defraud government using forged documents money not less than K1 billion which was paid to bogus suppliers and that he was involved in Money laundering of K3, 252, 225 billion, proceeds of serious crime between April and September 2013.

Kalonga pleaded guilty and convicted of all three counts. 

Meanwhile the case has been adjourned to a later date and possibly next week for sentence hearing.

However, his caution statement has made revelations of genesis of Cashgate and named some of the key figures in government including other government officers from various ministries and departments who became defrauders after being recruited by the ruling party then.

Key names includes: former President Dr. Joyce Banda, former Budget Director Paul Mphwiyo, former Accountant General Bill Kandoje, chief accountant George Banda, Clemence Madzi including some officers from Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU).

17 Civil Engineering and Building companies have also been implicated as bogus service providers that were paid huge sums of money without rendering any service to government.

Mary Kachale: Kalonga was recruiting fellow
workers

In both State narration of facts to the present case and Caution Statement of Mr. Kalonga indicates that former President Joyce Banda was at the control of such calculated theft of public coffers for the purpose of funding her Peoples Party during the 2014 general election campaign.

Kalonga says at one point Oswald Lutepo spoke to the former president on telephone and that their conversation was put on a loudspeaker. He said Lutepo was assuring her of the availability of funds that was defrauded by the conspiracy team.

He also said apart from being assured by Paul Mphwiyo that nothing will happen to them as people were placed in every strategic areas in all government ministries and departments, officers involved in the scam received a word of assurance of their protection by the former president Joyce Banda through Treasa Senzani. 

In his self confession statement, Kalonga is claiming that he was introduced to Paul Mphwiyo by a man from Accountant General’s office and that later, Mphwiyo placed him as recruiter of fellow civil servants from Ministry of Tourism as well as bogus contractors.

Later, Kalonga said he used to collect money from bogus companies after they withdrawn their cheques. Then 60% of the money was for the Peoples Party while the rest was shared among the companies and officers involved. But he said Paul Mphwiyo was the one collecting the money for the party and was delivering the money to state house. 

Leonard Kalonga also indicated that most of their meetings were taking place at his house in area 18 and in rare occasions, the meetings happened in other places. 

However, he also mentioned that the defrauding group had at one point suspected nontransparent acts from Paul Mphwiyo due to unfair shares.

The former Assistant Director of Tourism in the Ministry of Tourism, Leonard Karonga began working civil servant in 1992.

Cashgate Case: Former President Joyce Banda Named In Kalonga Case

Lilongwe High Court 

Leonard Kalonga pleads Guilty to K3. 2 billion case. 

Kalonga was arrested on cashgate following his acquisition of 6 Scania Marcopolo buses using government money. 

Now, case involves more other persons already answering cashgate cases and other new other names. The case also includes 17 Civil Engineering Constructions 

Kalonga has since pleaded guilty. 

Shocking revelation of the case 

Immediately Kalonga pleaded guilty, Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) Mary Kachale made narration of facts of the case which claim involvement of former President Dr. Joyce Banda and Paul Mphwiyo as key coordinator of the fraud way before he become budget director.

Mary Kachale: Proceeds
of theft were going to
Peaples Party 

The statement claims, Kalonga was a recruiter of government officers that were involved in cashgate, companies involved including collecting and distribution of cash, even including collecting and distribution of cheques. 

DPP stated that the defrauded money was delivered to State House and were meant for 2014 campaign by Joyce Banda administration 

The facts also claim that Dr. Joyce Banda assured protection of all involved in the scam. 

The DPP also in her narration included names of Oswald Lutepo, George Banda, Treasa Senzani (who joined the fraud later than others)

Kalonga equivocally agreed to the facts presented by DPP

Case was under Justice Fiona Mwale who has since convicted Kalonga of three charges 

The first charge indicates that Kalonga in 2013 conspired with other persons to defraud government using forged documents to a tune of not less than K1 billion paid to bogus suppliers. 

His second count states that between July and September 2013 Leonard Kalonga facilitated, a baited and aided acquisition of 6 Marcopolo Scania buses with Paul Mphwiyo and others money laundering to a tune of K520 million while the third count Kalonga was involved in Money laundering which were proceeds of serious crime between April and September 2013 with other persons to a tune of K3, 252, 225 billion.

Visit again for more updates as the case is still in progress

Ten European Investors Coming To Malawi Looking For Invesment Opportunities

Ten European companies visiting Malawi to explore investment opportunities available in the country

The Malawi Investment Trade Centre (MITC) says the team of Seventeen delegates is in a reciprocal mission to verify investment opportunities that were discussed with Malawi delegation in London between 21t and 23rd of July this year.

Minister of Industry and Trade, Joseph Mwanamveka who led Malawi delegation to UK and held bilateral investment meetings with 25 European investors, asked them to come to Malawi. The visit was a pre-conference exercise ahead of Global African Investment Summit to be held in London on 1st and 2nd December 2015 where Malawi President is expected to attend.

Kumbemba

Chief Executive Officer for MITC Clement Kumbemba said the 10 companies who were among the 25 companies are keen to explore and to see for themselves of the enormous opportunities that the country told them while in UK.

Kumbemba said some of the companies to form part of the delegation are interested in energy, infrastructure, tourism, financial sector among others

“There is a construction company called Dawnus, which is interested in Finance and construct infrastructure projects, to a valued of US$80 million. There is also Aggreko Company that specializes in the provision of off-grid interim supply of electricity from either gas or diesel

Mott Macdonald a global management, engineering and development consultancy company that adds value for private and public clients. It mostly undertakes feasibility studies for both public and private projects leading to bankable feasibility studies” said Kumbemba

He also mentioned of PW Mining International a British owned company which has a lot of business interests including civil works, mining, property development and airport handling and that there is a company called Well and Able company interested in residential and property management.

He indicated that the delegation visiting Malawi from 31st August to the 4th of September 2015 will meet President Peter Mutharika before meeting sectoral line ministries and other key stakeholders.

“They have to interact with sector specialists so that they can firm their positions before December Summit” said Kumbemba

Kumbemba added that the remaining 15 companies could have come but opted other time and that some would come individually this year possibly at the end of September and October.

The Malawi Investment Trade Centre (MITC) CEO also asked Malawians and local companies to effectively take advantage of the the prevailing economic downward spiral by increasing production, investments and exports.

He noted that the weakening Kwacha and many other current hurdles offer Malawians more opportunities and that if well utilized may result into growth of businesses and the whole economy  and possibly end some of the problems the country is facing.