Cartons of money were stashed at State House—JB

Malawi President Joyce Banda on Saturday claimed cartons of money were stashed at New State House in Lilongwe which resulted in some people breaking into the residence.

Addressing chiefs from the Northern Region in Malawi’s northern city of Mzuzu, the President said she was powerless to act on the issue.

“When I entered State House, doors were broken because there was money inside and people wanted to steal. There were cartons, cartons, cartons of money,” she told the chiefs.

The President, however, could not say how much was at New State House and whether people who stole the money have been arrested.

This is the first time that the President has confirmed reports that there was money at State House, a development that came to light after president Bingu wa Mutharika’s death.

Banda, however, said she found nothing in government coffers when she took over government and had to start from scratch.

She also said it is high time government and chiefs worked together.

Speaking earlier, Paramount Chief Kyungu warned chiefs against frustrating development projects by conniving with development committee leaders that are mostly DPP members.

The President then gave 198 bags of fertiliser to traditional leaders drawn from all districts in the region. Paramount chiefs received eight bags each, senior chiefs got six bags each, traditional authorities (T/As) got four bags and sub-T/As were given two bags each.