Clergy ready to surrender cashgate linked property
The clergy in the country say they are ready to surrender any property that is linked to cashgate if there can be enough evidence that some members of their religions used it to help churches or mosques.
The clergy, who admitted the difficulty of drawing a line between cashgate and clean money donations, were reacting to Minister of Justice Fahad Assani’s remarks that he is aware of some denominations that benefited from cashgate.
Assani told Zodiak Broadcasting Station last Sunday that he is aware of some churches and other religious groups that benefited from Capital Hill looting.
Assani said: “Political parties may have benefited from the cashgate. But we should also know that churches also benefited from the scam because the suspects were helping their churches using cashgate money. I am aware of some churches that have benefited from cashgate.”
Speaking in separate interviews with Weekend Nation, chairperson of Muslim Association of Malawi (MAM), Sheikh Idrisa Muhammad, and general secretary of Malawi Council of Churches, Reverend Osborne Joda-Mbewe, said Assan’s claim could be true.
Said Joda-Mbewe: “Our church members are also officials in different offices in government and other institutions where they might be involved in the malpractice called cashgate.
“Of course such people make donations to their churches but one thing everyone should know is that the church does not ask the member to explain the source of his or her funds.”
Muhammad concurred with Joda-Mbewe saying he cannot rule out possibility of accommodating cashgate beneficiaries in the mosque saying: “We can have people who are connected to cashgate, but frankly speaking our religion, especially in Malawi, does not prioritise giving money or any donation to the mosque like it is the case with other denominations.”
Muhammad said Islam in Malawi relies on foreign donations; hence, the slim likelihood that religion benefitted from the stolen money.
Both Muhammad and Joda-Mbewe said the clergy is ready to assist in the ongoing investigation if there can be enough evidence that their members are involved in cashgate.
“We cannot hide such members because God does not tolerate corruption. Once we are convinced that particular church members are guilty of cashagate, we will surrender the property they donated to church. Furthermore, we will pray for them and assist in investigations accordingly,” said Joda-Mbewe.
Kodi bambo Asani, mukzungulira bwanji? Choyamba katengeni magalimoto omwe Lutepo anapereka ku PP. Apo bii tsekani pakamwa panu, musaziyalutse ndi za ndale.
Cashgate beneficiaries that we all know are the president of PP and the PP itself. Lutepo donated vehicles that are being used. Laywers who are representing these thieves are also benefitting from the cashgate, i hear bail for cashgate has been upped by some laywers, so if convicted, anthuwa azabweza ndalamazo poti zikutha nkufupa ma laywer.
I did listen to the Zodiak interview. Essentially, Asani was being asked whether the cars Lutepo donated to PP will be confiscated. Instead of giving a straight answer, he started mentioning the donations the cashgaters gave to churches. He was deliberately conflating the issue of public theft with people’s religious sensibilities. I wish the interviewer had taken him up on that, but he let it pass. Asani is quickly proving to be a disappointment. Maybe Mkwezalamba will act differently.
The money which Joyce Banda recently donated to PIM during Chilembwe Day is cash gate money. The clergy wants to have their hands clean but JB’s PP can not emulate this. Yes all the lawyers who are flocking enmase to defend these cash gate people should also be investigated. They have already started with Ralph Kasambala and he is not alone. What Joyce Banda is benefiting for using the Jet needs to be investigated. But our Parliament. Mayooooo. Mbola, mbuzi zokhazokha. Most of them dont even understand what cash gate is all about. I was talking to friend MP who is not concerned even abit.
Fahad is a moslem and has no respect for churches. He knows very well that cash-gate is a PP scheme and their leader Joyce is accountable. Instead of accepting wrong doing these thugs are looking for ways to shift the blame. We still want to know who authorised the payments and who signed the cheques. We also want to know who introduced Oswald Lutepo to public funds. Additionally, we want to know why Joster Njanji was brought back from retirement to head the stealing at OPC. Why did Joster bring his favoured accounts personnel at OPC? I hope the Nation News paper will take it up from here. Fahad is a liar. He was seen moving around with Pika Manondo and Chivunde asking for money from parastals to help campaign for Joyce Banda. That is why Manondo is openly pointing a finger at Joyce Banda.