UK queries jet sale
One of Malawi’s biggest bilateral donors, Britain, has questioned the manner in which the Malawi Government sold the controversial presidential jet which was bought by the former president, the late Bingu wa Mutharika.
Speaking in an exclusive interview in Lilongwe yesterday, British High Commissioner Michael Nevin said government must come out clearly on the issue, particularly at a time the Joyce Banda administration’s image has been tainted by the cashgate.
In 2010, Britain cut aid to Malawi by £3 million (about K2.2 billion) after the purchase of the jet that cost more than £8 million (about K5.8 billion), saying it had concerns about the purchase given the impoverished state of the nation and the fact that the country relies on donor support for up to 40 percent of its development budget.
Mutharika defended the jet purchase, saying it was cheaper to run it than hire an aircraft each time he wanted to travel abroad.
Said Nevin: “Selling the jet was taken as a good symbol of the government prioritising austerity measures and tackling poverty. We were under the impression that the jet had been sold to the best bidder in an open competition, but media reports suggest that it was not a straightforward deal as such.
“It is particularly concerning if there is a nexus between selling the jet, buying of boats and the Paramount Group.”
Nation on Sunday investigations established that Paramount/Fortune Air Fleet, which is now operating the jet, is linked to Paramount Group, a company which President Banda has engaged to supply seven interceptor boats to be fitted with arms for patrols on Lake Malawi.
Nevin said it is difficult for one to make judgments on the matter at the moment because government has not come out clearly on arrangements it made on the sale of the jet.
“We are asking government for greater clarity around this deal and any links to the purchase of the boats. Given the cashgate, it’s important that there are even greater efforts to promote transparency around contracts. We would like the government to remove clouds around the sale of the jet,” said Nevin.
He said the risk of deals of this nature is that companies gain inappropriate influence and advantage, adding that although this may not be the case on this issue, Britain needs an explanation for clarity.
“We welcomed their communication that the jet was sold and it was a very good signal but because confidence has been damaged with the cashgate, it is really important if there is transparency in all the programmes that government is undertaking,” said Nevin.
Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace (CCJP) national coordinator Chris Chisoni agreed with Nevin, saying government must come out clearly on the sale of the jet as the deal is clouded in secrecy.
“Government must come out transparently and clearly in the way it handled the jet sale. We need to know who the bidders were, who won the bid and bought the plane, how much was realised and what happened with the money,” said Chisoni.
Special presidential adviser on communication and political affairs Elias Wakuda Kamanga refused to comment on the matter and referred it to Information Minister Brown Mpinganjira.
He could not pick his phone, but his office recently published a statement that the plane was sold to Bonhox Enterprises Limited of British Virgin Islands.
Very curious to know. But why waiting for the Briton to start the thing while we are calm? Atleast malawians should be very serious in Matters that concern our nation.
50 solid years Malawi is still in Dark?
Malawian Presidents usually start well but their advisors and those that surround them.
Really
Joice Banda ndi wakuba.
Mzimayi Joyce Banda ndi wakubadi.
Nevin says that the British want to know what is going on because of what has been reported in the media. This is diplomatic waffle. They KNOW that the media have got it right.
Joisi ndi wakuba kuyambira kalekale. Izi sizodabwitsanzo ayi chifukwa sichachilendo. Iye dzina lake ndi Wakuba.
joyisi ndiwakuba wopanda manyazi. Pa May 23 timuwotcha muchitayala.
All aircraft are regsistered and such information is easily avaibale freely on internet, also sales are recorded in the public domain and available for information, the jet which is question is a Falcon Daussalt 900 which was registered in malawi as reg number 7Q-ONE, now this aircraft is being managed and rent out (leased out) in south africa where it has been registered with south african registration ZS-FCI. It is the same aircraft which malawi claims to have been sold and it is the same aircraft JB is using extensively i.e to mandela funeal and to kenya independence, it is the same aircraft she is trying to say ” its from a wellwisher/friend”. DID MALAWI SELL THE JET TO FREINDS”, THERE IS NO RECORD OF THE PLANE BEING SOLD, HOWEVER THERE IS ARE FEATURE ON WEBSITE SELLING THIS PLANE, AS OF TODAY FRI 10 JAN 14, THE PLANE IS STILL FOR SALE , IT IS BEING MANAGED ON BEHALF ON MALAWI GOVERNMENT. WETHER it was swapped for the boats i dont know, but the truth is theh boats are not armoured,( no bullet proof0 they dont have any militayr equipement, like machine guns, they are just speed boats, anyone can buy they, ISNT WHAT WE NEED A GOOD AIR POWER TO DEFENCE AND ATTACKE ENEMIES USING GPS ACCURATELY IN THEIR OWN BACKYARD, THIS IS NOT 1945 WE CANT WIN WAR IN WATER, WAR IS AND WILL BE WON IN AIR THIS CENTURY auntie, apatseni asodzi ku makanjira timabotito
Even the British now know that Joice Banda is a thief,with her Wakuba Kamanga.They sold the jet to have money for their endless political campaigns.When a person is dying they slowly become deaf.We already ä poor country but she is spending millions on the road.
A Malawia kupusa. Ndithu tigulitse ndege Parliament yonse amvekere yes mayi. Lero mayi has lent the jet to a family friend and spending millions of Malawi Government money to hire the same condemed jet. The President is getting 10% into her bank account in J’berg for the hire of her own jet.
Mpake kumatinyengerera ndi nkhwaila ife mmanja pwapwa.
”Bingu bought the jet, Malawians (and lots of pple) said haa! what the hell are you doing Bungu? the woman has sold the jet and the same people are saying haa! what the fuck are you doing Joyce Banda?” I’ve been in Malawi for 20yrs but still I don’t understand its politics!!
My opinion: I understand that each president has advisors and when something goes wrong it’s because of them however I think each and every president should have common sense after evaluating each and every advice. for instance, let’s say you’ve got only one pair of shoe and you don’t like walking barefooted, if someone tells you to sell it, can you do that? and how can it fill going to borrow the same thing which was yours?
We need someone with a vision in whatever he/she is doing
No, the woman has not sold the jet. That’s why folks are angry. Neither Bingu nor Joyce needs any jet. As a nation, we can’t afford it. So stop twisting people’s arguments.