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Capital Hill plunderers face life in jail, JB pledges corruption fight to continue

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ACB Director Justice Rizine mzikamanda and President Joyce Banda after the commemoration of National Anti Corruption day in Malawi at Bingu International Conference centre-pic by lisa Vintulla
ACB Director Justice Rizine mzikamanda and President Joyce Banda after the commemoration of National Anti Corruption day in Malawi at Bingu International Conference centre-pic by lisa Vintulla

President Joyce Banda today led Malawians in commemorating the Anti-Corruption Day in Lilongwe where she said corruption is frustrating government’s efforts to rebuild the country’s economy and promised to deal with all people involved in the looting of government funds at Capital Hill.

Charged Banda said she will spare no effort in fighting corruption in the public service and the discovery of the looting is not accidental.
“I have explained it before that it was because I noticed that our currency was not accordingly responding to the recovery that was taking place in the economy that I raised serious questions with the former Minister of Finance.
I charged him and his team to work to discover any loopholes through which Government resources were being lost and seal those loopholes. True to my suspicion, and thanks to the work of my officials, the looting of Government resources at Capital Hill was discovered,” said Banda.

Paramount Chief Kyungu and ACB Director Justice Rizine Mzikamanda at the commemoration of National Anti Corruption Day in Malawi at Bingu Confernce centre-pic by lisa Vintulla
Paramount Chief Kyungu and ACB Director Justice Rizine Mzikamanda at the commemoration of National Anti Corruption Day in Malawi at Bingu Confernce centre-pic by lisa Vintulla
The president said she will investigate and seal all loopholes in the Integrated Financial Management System (Ifmis) adding that she will not allow plunder of public resources to continue.
Said Banda: “This is why I and my Government have spared no effort in investigating this looting and bring all those involved to justice. I have said it time again, I have placed my political career at stake by going flat out to root out this corruption because I believe this is the right thing a leader who loves her people and her country should do.
“I have said that I will shield no one and that I have allowed all the law enforcement agencies to work independently, professionally and diligently to ensure that we, as a country, get to the bottom of the problem and deal with it once and for all. I have also allowed the participation of foreign experts in virtually every key institution in [so that] we have a credible and thorough investigation of the matter.”

cross section of development patners representative at the commemoration of  National Anti Coruption Day in Malawi-pic by Lisa Vintulla
cross section of development patners representative at the commemoration of National Anti Coruption Day in Malawi-pic by Lisa Vintulla
The Malawi leader urged that no one can doubt the credibility of government investigations in the cashgate scandal.
“Do not be deceived, not every country can allow foreign experts to get involved in investigating internal and serious matters as we have done. It is like we have allowed foreign experts to go anywhere in our house, including our own bedroom, in order for them to assist resolve this matter,” she said.
“To win the fight,” President Banda said, “she has put in place a government Action Plan on measures to improve public financial management. The implementation of that plan is on course has had wide support, including that of our Development Partners.”
Banda then warned that there are forces trying to derail the process of investigation and prosecution in order to protect culprits and that other forces want to use the investigations and the prosecutions in these matters for their own political or other agenda.

Speaker of the National Assembly Chimunthu Banda and Minister of Trade Sosten Gwengwe at the Commemoration of National Anti corruption Day at Bingu International Conference Centre-pic by lisa Vintulla
Speaker of the National Assembly Chimunthu Banda and Minister of Trade Sosten Gwengwe at the Commemoration of National Anti corruption Day at Bingu International Conference Centre-pic by lisa Vintulla
“I will not allow anyone to derail the process for their own political or other agenda. Our law enforcement agencies must be allowed to operate independently and professionally. When we talk about independence of the agencies, we mean independence from interference whether from the Government, NGOs, donors or any individual or other authority. Interference can either be direct or subtle. All that must not happen,” she warned.
Speaking earlier Malawi’s Justice Minister Fahad Assani said government will submit to courts that all those answering charges  involving  the plunder of public funds at Capital Hill should face life sentence.
“If you stole government money you will face life in prison,” warned Assani.
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16 Comments

  1. JB how are you going to catch yourself, since you are the mother of Cashgate. Where are the buses that were bought with looted money? They have disappeared from police. You really think you can fool us, upite ku Dowa ukapepese anthu ataya ana awo cause health workers sanalipidwe ma allowances awo wanva?

    1. i think she must make he house in order first before jumping into finding the culprits by which she is the chief CEO of cas-hgate you are right…CHECK YOUR POCKETS BEFORE fetching anyone.

      1. How come Malawians allow President Banda to be lying in their face. She is the masterminder and beneficiary of the looting. She was part of the DPP government as Vice President and it took her 18 months to discover that things are not alright in the public bag. That is what Professor Wiseman Chijere Chirwa describe as being clueless. How can you know the state of your public purse if you are globetrotter and on the road distributing maize, cows and goats and in the process collecting allowances. Malawians need to wake up! Where are opposition parties!

  2. My dunderhead president. You are a police, detective, lawyer, judge then arrest the thief. But who is the thief? Joyce. Who benefited from looted money? Joyce. Who received cars bought by looted money? Joyce.

    Shut up Joyce, white people are aware that you you stole the money but since they pushed Bingu to die so that they can loot Malawi in loans they are celebrating that you have impoverished the country. ZBD threatened white people.

  3. Pajatu amayiwa ndi mboni ya Honourable Kasambla. Ndiye tikazimva sakuonjezaso. If the lady is serious then Government would not have just relocated the cash gate guys instead of relieving them of their duties as investigations take place. But again we can accept her seriousness if today Hophmally Makande was arrested and the PP cash gated vehicles are seized and if Loti Dzonzi was working in his capacity and and not being silently replaced by home boy Bophan.

  4. Mai ochititsa mseru uyu. May 20th is coming and thats when u will see kuti Malawi is not your toilet. Mbamva yayikulu iwe and mayi ochititsa chisoni iwe.

  5. Nice speech Madam President, would appreciate though if your actions would consistently match your words and win the hearts of many, including those in the opposing camp. Keep the Ant-Corruption fire burning

  6. please dont loose hope continue your work even jesus face such kind of problems. I wish you all the best in this coming elections..no more woes… feel free in your hectit development, you have done alot mama.

  7. The notion that Joyce Banda can fight corruption in Malawi is idiotic , a nauseating and disgusting concoction of lies , hypocrisy, stupidity and total bullshit ! She is part and parcel of Cashgate .

  8. Ikubwera nthawi pomwe mirandu yonse imene siinawerudzidwe bwino idzaweruzidwanso ndi Yehova mwini wake kuchigwa cha mirandu. Munthu atha kuonesa ushasha pansi pano pothyathyalika pakamwa, koma likadzafika Tsiku la Yehova, lomwe ndiloopsa kwambiri, ambiri adzayaluka. Enanu amene mukufuna kugulitsa dziko lathu la Malawi la chiKhristu chifukwa chokonda ndalama, muzafa imfa yowawa!

  9. Life sentence inprison is a good idea. So many people has lost they life through cash gate scandal.

  10. People do not close your eyes because this is an election year. Face the reality. jB joined the looting in progress and what is happening now are efforts to deal with it. If you mix this with politics you will be surprised because JB will continue with the presidency

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