Police hunt suspect in MCP-MEC link
Fiscal Police are trying to unmask the individual who deposited K100 000 (about $238) into an MCP bank account so that the money appears to have come from the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC).
On April 10 2014, an unidentified individual deposited the money into the party’s account 0070873005015 at NBS Bank in the name of MEC liaison officer Ellen Kulujili who has since disowned the transaction.
Kulujili told Nation on Sunday on Wednesday that she does not have the means to raise such a ‘huge’ amount of money to fund a political party.
After being shown the deposit slip, she said while some details were hers, the person who made the deposit misspelt her name and forged the signature.
The slip bears the name Kulujiri instead of Kulujili.
“How could I misspell my own name? The signature on that slip is not even mine. I cannot spend such a huge amount supporting a political party. I have no political interest whatsoever.
“I do not know who deposited the money into that account although the other details were mine. Whosoever did this has evil intentions and I cannot understand why they chose me of all people,” she said.
On Thursday, Kulujili went to NBS Bank at Chichiri Shoprite in Blantyre where the deposit was made to view a CCTV recording that could help her identify the depositor. But she said the bank told her that CCTV cameras were not working on the day the deposit was made.
“It is very suspicious. How would the bank say the CCTV cameras were not working? How would the bank allow that to happen?” she wondered.
NBS spokesperson Timothy Ngwira said the bank needed to examine the transaction before providing information on the matter.
“We have to establish whether indeed the CCTV was not working that day. Which is very doubtful because the cameras are checked almost every day,” said Ngwira.
One of the Fiscal Police officers leading the investigations into the matter said they have opened a case of forgery and uttering false document against the individual who made the deposit.
“Mrs Kulujili has reported the matter and investigations have commenced,” said the officer whose identity we have withheld.
MEC spokesperson Sangwani Mwafulirwa said after discussing the matter with Kulujili, the commission established that she was framed by the people who made the deposit.
MCP secretary general Gustav Kaliwo said the party is grateful to the person who deposited the money, but wondered why the depositor used somebody’s name.
“It is very strange that somebody deposits money and deliberately enters wrong information. What is the motive? But as MCP we thank him for the contribution,” he said.
Kaliwo said as of April 17 2014, the party’s campaign account had K853 000 (about $2 123).
In some countries, political finance regulations require individuals who make donations to political parties exceeding a stipulated amount to be identified. The requirement is part of a package of laws that minimise the corrosive impact of money in politics.
In Malawi, private political finance is virtually unregulated, a situation that opens up opportunities for individuals and organisations to use their resources to influence government policies.
