ACB probes June 2020 payments, others
The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has launched a probe into government payments made from June 1 to date, the anti-graft body said yesterday.
The bureau has also moved in to vet change of ownership transactions for vehicles as well as houses, among other assets.
In an interview in Lilongwe yesterday, ACB director general Reyneck Matemba said the bureau had taken the measures as part of corruption prevention following a tip off that some individuals were changing ownership of some assets in the wake of change in government.
He said: “It is true we have written the Secretary to the Treasury and also Blantyre District Council. It’s the same reason the bureau has reintroduced requirements to vet all change of ownership of vehicles, land and houses.
“This decision has been arrived at to prevent disposal or concealment of proceeds of crime as we have received information that some people are trying to do so. These [the people changing ownership] are individuals that had accumulated assets illicitly and want to conceal or dispose them off by changing ownership of those assets.”
The bureau has since ordered Treasury to immediately release all documents pertaining to payments made from June 1.
The communication we have seen shows that the bureau wants Treasury to provide to the graft-busting body the following:
(a). List of all contractors, companies and/or business entities that have been paid from Treasury through the Office of Accountant General stating the reason[s] for each of the payments and the amount of money paid between 1st June 2020 to date.
(b). A list of all contractors, companies and/or business entities that have submitted requests or claims of payment from Treasury, but have not yet been paid between the 1st June 2020 and now.
(c). A list of all public servants paid from the Treasury f money exceeding K2 million in allowances between 1st June 2020 and now (i.e. the date of the notice), including the reason[s] for the said payments or reason[s] for leaving their duty station for each of their claims and
(d). A list of all public servants Treasury intends to pay a sum of money exceeding K2 million in allowances between 1st June 2020 and now, including the reason[s] for the said payments or reason[s] for leaving their duty station for each of their claims.
The ACB has also specifically restricted and requested documents related to the sale of land in Chigumula, Blantyre, belonging to government through Blantyre District Council to one Nolvahiwa Phiri.
The transaction is said to have taken place days before the court-ordered June 23 fresh presidential election.
The notice on the sale of the property and signed by Matemba reads: “Take notice that you shall not, without my written consent, sub-lease or otherwise deal with, or proceed with any arrangement or processes for the sub-leasing of 0.8571 hectare of leasehold land known as Lot No. 82 at Chigumula in Blantyre, from Blantyre District Council to Nolvahiwa Phiri of P.O Box 21, Thyolo.”
The orders were issued last week as Malawians awaited results of the fresh presidential election, which has ushered in a new administration led by Malawi Congress Party president Lazarus Chakwera.
