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US envoy wants Malawians to exert cashgate pressure

Jackson: It is not olny drugs that are lost, but lives too
Jackson: It is not olny drugs that are lost, but lives too

United States Ambassador Jeanine Jackson has called on Malawians to hold government accountable on investigations and prosecution of people alleged to have taken part in looting of taxpayers’ money at Capital Hill.

Jackson was speaking on Thursday at a reception in honour of Global Health Corps (GHC) chief executive officer Barbara Bush who is in the country to meet with experts working in various fields of health.

Jackson said governments and private citizens, through organisations such as GHC, are striving to improve health outcomes, but corruption was derailing the efforts.

“When drugs are pilfered, it is not only drugs that are lost, but lives, too. When funds are stolen from the Treasury, the provision of life-saving services is threatened.

“Malawians should not accept misuse of taxpayer and donor resources in any case, and certainly not when such corruption results in the deaths of fellow citizens,” she said.

Jackson said while donors recognise important steps government has taken since the theft of billions of kwacha was revealed, she asked Malawians to ensure no action is left untaken.

According to an update of the action plan agreed to by donors and government, investigations into the plunder are ongoing while 35 cases are currently in the High Court ready for prosecution.

Also, results of the first phase of the forensic audit are expected to be out January while a comprehensive audit starting from 2005 is expected to start soon.

Speaking at the same function, Minister of Health Catherine Gotani Hara said government has taken issues of health care seriously and would not allow people to die simply because of drugs theft and misuse of funds.

Gotani Hara lauded the GHC system of placing local fellows alongside international experts from different fields other than health.

In her remarks, Bush said she co-founded GHC because of her passion to see change and reduce inequities in healthcare in the US and the rest of the world.

Since its establishment in 2009, GHC has placed 322 fellows under the age of 30 in 16 countries.

 

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6 Comments

  1. Where were you mam when Malawians were agonizing with the pain of Cashgate. Is it strange for America to be so late. I miss the good old America. At least the past envoys cared.

  2. well done Jackson, we want government to investigate even beyond Capital Hill. Its not only capital hill that has looted government funds .Its every government department, what worries us is the pace at which government has taken Knowing how far the looting has gone. Right now the cashgaters are trying their best to seal any possible leaks that may be available, very sad indeed..

  3. How do we hold government accountable? The reason the JB/PP government went on such a rampage is, they did not expect to be elected anyway. So they took what they could in the short term. WE will vote them out, but the money is stolen. And nobosy in the ruling elite repossess the stolen money from the culprits, let alone seriously prosecute them, so they can have their well earned punishment. We know from the official report who murdered Chasowa, yet nothing is done. WE know Peter M is guilty of treason, but he is let of the hook. We know Kaliati stole a lot of money, but she is not brought to justice, the list goes on and on. But even the government of a competing party is not pulling through. It is because it is the same people, the crostitutes who are in every ruling party. and they feel solidarity with other thieves. We need to replace the whole ruling group.

  4. The envoy is right! Malawians, we should not accept this abuse from any government. But, I bet, even urban Malawians will not demonstrate in the streets over the rampart corruption, which as the envoy says, has cost lives. NGOs, where are you now when we need you most? Kodi mungonjoya ndikudya nao masikono’wo (are you subtly involved in the corruption too? Apparently, there is no other plausible explaination.) The economy is dire straits; most Malawians are just too busy trying to exist or live, barely. I can’t blame them for not rising up. They will show their rage in May!

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