Malawi leader Mutharika pleads innocent on K145m: MBC airs edited interview
August 10, 2018 Owen Khamula -Nyasa Times 18 Comments
President Peter Mutharika’s used an interview program on the state controlled Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) on Thursday which pleaded innocent to the contentious K145 million donation suspected to have been proceeds of crime in much-publicised Malawi Police Service (MPS) food rations scam.
Mutharika in defensive mode
The K145 million payout to Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) was deposited by Pioneer Investment Limited in a bank account for which President Mutharika is a sole signatory.
Anti Corruption Bureau investigation report showed that PI Limited made an abortive interest claim of K466 million from Police and deposited the controversial K145 million into the DPP bank account at Standard Bank.
Mutharika responded to questions by veteran journalist Vincent Khonyongwa, the newly promoted
acting director of News and Current Affairs in Talk to the Presidentprogramme.
acting director of News and Current Affairs in Talk to the Presidentprogramme.
The President said in the 30-minute recorded interview that the K145 million was an “honest’’ donation which his party announced it will refund the funds, saying he did not know the donation is suspected to have been proceeds of a crime.
PI Limited deposited the funds in the DPP account immediately after getting a K2.7 billion payment for police food rations contract.
Mutharika said he was a victim of a political smear campaign ahead of nex year’s elections.
“I know of a few individuals who were sent by other parties to tarnish my name and the DPP,” he said.
“All over the world people receive donations and it is normal for people to receive donations,” stressed Mutharika.
But Mutharika said the graft-busting body were free to carry out investigations, saying he would never interfere with the bureau.
Said Mutharika: “I do not interfere in the ACB. Never. Interfere for what?”
During the interview program there a few gaffes as President Mutharika mentioned banks long ago closed as those processing civil servants housing scheme.
For instance, when he was asked about loans for a housing scheme for lower grade civil servants, Mutharika answered with confidence that he was talking to Indebank and other banks when in actual fact Indebank folded up in the country years back.
Malawi Stock Exchange (MSE)—listed National Bank of Malawi (NBM) recapitalized Indebank Limited from retail to development banking. Indebank was established in 1972 and derives its name from Investment and Development Bank Limited—the original name at the time of its founding.
The aired program was heavily edited with most of the materials which Mutharika initially said and were in the promotion material were edited out.
MBC edited out his responses to vice president Saulos Chilima’s pledge that he would create one million jobs once voted into power as well as the part in which he said it was normal for a chief executive offiver of a company or organization to be a sole bank account signatory.
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Guest
Odala
instead of him to apologise to Malawians so that he is seen to be human!
0
4 hours ago
Guest
Tsogolo langa
Thief in Chief your time is up, you are. such a disgrace beyond measure ! I can’t believe you are a lawyer!
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4 hours ago
Guest
Kaitano
Chimene ndidziwa ine ndichakuti pangatilike bwanji maka, we are going out from this leadership. Anthu ozuza ndi opweteketsa mtima pansipansi ngati inu were not expected in Malawi,am sure it’s not only me who is bleeding inside when I see the way how killing this country, when money takes over the sit, leaders become snakes, monkeys are better. Look the way mmene mwaonongela maganizo ya athu,kusokoneza ubongo was anthu, kuwapanga anthu azilephela kuganiza,anthu aziva kuwawa mkati mwenimweni mwa moyo wawo,dziko lao kulipanga lothina pa moyo wawo, this is not good! Ndithu tsiku Lina tituluka ndithu mmanja mwanu ndipo tadzatenga what belongs… Read more »
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4 hours ago
Guest
Agenda Setting Theory
When JB and PP received donation from Lutepo and others who were involved in Cash gate we did you say? JB said she did not know that some people who made donations to PP were involved in crime. And now you are found in the same situation. Why should we believe you??????
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5 hours ago
Guest
Mangochi Kabwafu
An arrest has to be made. Mbava zeni zeni izi. All they will do is move the stolen money around.
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5 hours ago
Guest
linda
dull leader who justifies corruption, useless man, education did not help him in any way!!!
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5 hours ago
Guest
MBONI YA BOMA
Peter has repeatedly said that he has money and no need for him to be squandering tax payers money. All what I know about his life abroad is that Peter was a lecturer and managed to acquire a house. I am not sure whether Peter was living luxurious life or not but my interest is to ponder his argument by relating him to his late brother Bingu who worked for best international organisations abroad (I mean better positions than college lecturer) but Bingu had no house that I knew the time he came back from abroad. It was during his… Read more »
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6 hours ago
Guest
zikomo
mbamva…
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6 hours ago
Guest
Nsanje lalanje
Kajoloweka tiye nawoni amenewa…….mbava zokalamba……
Ana awo akulipidwa ngati needy student…..(Dausi) yet amphawi kuwakaniza…………May the lord forgive you…
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6 hours ago
Guest
DAVIE C MAKAWA
mbc AND DAUSI ARE THE ONES TRYING TO SPOIL THIS GUY, YOU GUYS ARE THE ONES TURNISHING THE IMAGE OF THIS PARTY.ANYWAY AM AN MCP. NyasaTimes Newspaper
Malawi leader Mutharika pleads innocent on K145m: MBC airs edited interviewPresident Peter Mutharika’s used an interview program on the state controlled Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) on Thursday which pleaded innocent to the contentious K145 million donation suspected to have been proceeds of crime in much-publicised Malawi Police...
The post Malawi leader Mutharika pleads innocent on K145m: MBC airs edited interview appeared first on Malawi Nyasa Times - Malawi breaking news in Malawi .
