Inkosi Kwataine in PAC allowances scandal

Inkosi Kwataine of Ntcheu collected allowances at the All-Inclusive Public Affairs Committee (PAC) Conference held two weeks ago at Limbe Cathedral and never showed up for the meeting.

PAC has confirmed the development, saying its wish was for all invited people to participate fully.

Chancellor College political analyst Dr. Mustapha Hussein has since condemned Kwataine’s conduct and said if he left for good reasons, he should have returned the allowances and asked for an amount for transport.

Kwataine declined to comment on the matter, saying he did not know anything about it. He then insisted that the reporter should visit him in his area to see development projects he is carrying out.

In an interview, PAC executive director Robert Phiri confirmed that Kwataine was one of the three invited traditional authorities. The organisation invited T/A Kadewere from the Southern Region and Chikulamayembe from the North, but the latter two did not confirm their participation.

“I know he [Kwataine] came around 3 pm on 13th March and got K15 000 for accommodation for one night, but he never appeared the next day for the meeting. We did not give allowances for all days at once. We gave the allowances for each day deliberately because we were not sure whether we could proceed the next day because of security issues,” said Phiri on Monday.

‘He pocketed an allowance’

He said Kwataine went to the meeting with his driver who also pocketed an allowance.

Added Phiri: “We do not know why he left. We did not invite as many chiefs as we could because we had many sectors to invite.

“At the moment we do not have a comment. If he decided to leave, it was his democratic choice. We would have loved if all participated fully.”

Asked if PAC would want its money back, Phiri said: “No comment on the money. I will behave like a Malawian.”

When called on Tuesday to explain why he left the conference after collecting the allowances, Kwataine said: “Tapangani zinthu zaphindu zoti ndikhonza kuperekapo maganizo anga. [Come up with a serious issue that I can comment on]. Am on my way to a funeral in Mzuzu.

“Tapangani yeniyeni yoti anthu akamva aziti mfumu yayankhula.[Let me comment on a serious issue]. I don’t know anything. Let us just talk about this other issue I am telling you. If you have some time, will you just come over to my area and see the kind of development projects I have embarked on.”

But Hussein faulted Kwataine for pocketing the allowance and leaving the conference.

Said Hussein: “He may have probably remembered that government was not fully supportive of the meeting. [He thought being seen at the meeting] would have jeopardised his work.”

He said it was not proper for Kwataine to collect the money because the allowances were meant for people who participated in the meeting.

“He should have participated. Unless there were good reasons for him to leave. In that case, he should have honourably returned the allowance and perhaps asked for the transport allowance,” said Hussein.

‘Chief are not free’

Justice Link executive director Justin Dzonzi said the absence of chiefs at the All-Inclusive PAC meeting meant that they are not free because of government intimidation.

The PAC meeting, which took place from 14 to 15 March, among others resolved that President Bingu wa Mutharika should resign or call for a referendum.

Government described the PAC meeting as a ploy to bring about regime change and President Bingu wa Mutharika said at a mass rally last week that he would not step down as demanded by the conference.

PAC is an interdenominational religious body with members that include Episcopal Conference of Malawi, Malawi Council of Churches, Muslim Association of Malawi, Evangelical Association of Malawi and Pentecostal Churches.