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House looks to Chihana for govt graft evidence

Member of Parliament for Mzimba North Yeremiya Chihana (Alliance for Democracy-Aford) will today be on the spotlight in the House where he will be expected to submit evidence he claims proves that some Tonse Alliance ministers are corrupt.

The legislator did not turn up in the chamber on Friday to present his ‘evidence’ on allegations he made that some Tonse Alliance government Cabinet members were receiving money from some Malawian businesspersons of Asian descent purportedly to evade arrests.

Gotani Hara: He will be given time to present

Parliament resolved on Monday last week that the Mzimba North MP should present his evidence in the House on Thursday following the allegations he made against the Tonse Alliance government that the new government is siphoning money through corruption.

Chihana, Aford’s sole representative in the 193-member House, was absent when Dedza South MP Ishmael Onani (Malawi Congress Party-MCP) on Thursday stood on point of order to remind Speaker Catherine Gotani Hara of the commitment Chihana had to fulfill—that of bringing the evidence he claimed he had against the Tonse Alliance government.

The Speaker noted that Chihana was not in the chamber but she told the House that the Aford member will be given time to present his evidence whenever he avails himself in the House.

Chihana: I would ask him to act on the information

During his 90-minute Question Time in the House on Thursday afternoon, President Lazarus Chakwera dared Chihana to ride with him on the convoy to show him the evidence.

Chihana did not respond in the House, but later said in an interview that the President had quoted his statement out of context.

He said he had submitted evidence of corruption by the new administration to the office of the Speaker.

Said Chihana: “I do not report to the President as a member of Parliament but what I would ask, not challenge the President but ask, is for him to  act on the information which I have provided.”

After Friday’s session, several MPs said Chihana should provide the evidence or withdraw his accusations.

Chihana responded that he had given the evidence to the Speaker’s office but later said more evidence had surfaced and would be tendered after validation of signatures is secured.

The House adjourned soon after the President finished taking questions from members.

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