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Peter’s portraits on parallel market

The Ministry of Information, Tourism and Civic Education has unearthed a racket where unauthorised people are selling the portrait of President Peter Mutharika at exorbitant prices.

Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Information, Tourism and Civic Education Chimwemwe Banda said in an interview yesterday that her ministry has discovered the racket following phone calls from people complaining about how expensive the portraits are selling.

Some cashing on his portraits: Mutharika
Some cashing on his portraits: Mutharika

Said Banda: “I have just received three phone calls this morning. This problem is real.”

According to her, the official price of each portrait is K1 500 (US$4), but some people who called her ministry said the portraits are selling as high as K6 500 (US$16).

“This is very regrettable and we will do everything possible to make sure the malpractice is stopped,” she said.

Banda advised that her ministry is the only official source of the portraits and anybody selling them without due authority was committing a crime.

She said: “We wish to advise that whoever is looking for the portraits must contact the Ministry of Information and will be assisted accordingly. Whoever is found selling the portraits at a price exceeding K1 500 must be reported to police or to my ministry.”

Banda: This is a real problem
Banda: This is a real problem

She added that her ministry has printed enough portraits to meet demand, regretting that “some opportunists are trying to make quick money out of them.”

Warned Banda: “We are yet to investigate the matter and have concrete information with regard to how these portraits are finding their way into the wrong hands. But the point is that this is unacceptable and must stop.

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One Comment

  1. The problem is not only selling at a higher price Madam PS, but also where to put the portrait. some people buy to be seen doing something but how and where they position the portrait it defeat the whole purpose. The PS should clarify who should buy, where to put it and how to put it and for what purpose. In short lets ask for uniform presentation.

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