I will be ambassador against crime, corruption—Lutepo

Cashgate convict Oswald Lutepo has said his participation in looting of billions of public funds and incarceration has taught him lessons to help Malawi combat crime and corruption; hence, he plans to become its ambassador.

Speaking to the media before judge Redson Kapindu sentenced him, the businessperson-cum-politician said he has decided to become an ambassador against the vice following his undesirable experience after some people used him to embezzle government funds.

Besides his new ambassadorial role, the youthful multi-millionaire, who described himself as a role model because of his education and successful businesses, also said he would advocate for minority rights in the country.

Said Lutepo just before his sentencing: “I declare from today that whatever the outcome of the judgment, I will be the ambassador against crime and corruption and I will also be an advocate for minority rights in Malawi.

“When I am talking about minority rights, I am talking about those that are suffering because their rights are not being heard,” he said.

Lutepo said his stay in prison since his arrest and conviction has taught him several things.

“Now I know that I am supposed to play a role in the development of Malawi,” he said “and to fight for the rights of many who are also suffering.”

Lutepo said some people commit crime because they have criminal minds, but there are others who do so because of circumstances and people must differentiate.

The 37-year-old observed that there were hundreds of children of inmates who lack parental care, are suffering and stigmatised because they are labelled children of the abandoned society.

Meanwhile, Lutepo has said he is ready to testify in other Cashgate cases if the State expressed interest to have him as witness.

He said Cashgate was deep-rooted in government machinery and it was something that needed to be uprooted and for that to be achieved, participation of people like him was vital.

But Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) deputy director Reyneck Matemba said in an interview it was difficult to say whether the State was ready to engage Lutepo as witness.

“It is difficult to say now for security reasons on his part and, secondly, to avoid jeopardising further investigations as well as prosecution strategies, but we cannot rule out anything,” he said.

Lutepo has become the seventh person to be thrown in jail on Cashgate-related charges since trials began in February 2014 and his sentence is so far the most severe, 11 years.