Nsanje District Council speaks on Covid funds

Nsanje District Council has dismissed the allegations made by the Leader of Opposition in Parliament Kondwani Nankhumwa on Thursday that it misappropriated K30 million Covid-19 funds.

Nsanje District Council chairperson Andrew Piriminta, Nsanje South legislator Ramzani Mahomed and Senior Chief Malemia signed a statement issued on Friday, distancing the council from Nankhumwa’s allegations.

Speaking in Lilongwe on Thursday, Nankhumwa claimed that expenditure reports for the controversial K6.2 billion Covid-19 response funds show abuse.

He gave examples of some district councils which allegedly mismanaged the funds, including Nsanje, where he said the funds disappeared immediately after they were deposited in the council’s account.

But the council responded: “The truth of the matter is that the High Court put garnishee order on all Nsanje District Council Accounts, including the District Development Fund [DDF] account, into which the Covid-19 funds and other developmental funds were deposited.

“Following this court order, full council immediately met and came up with resolutions that helped settle the matter with the subsequent lifting of the garnishee order.”

Speaking during the full council meeting on Friday, Senior Chief Malemia said the money was used for its intended purpose.

“This is a serious allegation that can dent the district’s image,” he said.

According to Nsanje District Council relief and rehabilitation officer Blessings Kantema, the funds were used for enforcing Covid-19 preventive measures and awareness campaigns.

Nsanje District Council was allocated K30 million from the K6.2 billion.

Last Friday, the district received K22 million from government to buy personal protective equipment.