Malawi sacks more officials linked to the maizegate saga

Sat, 11 Feb 2017 09:33:08 +0000

MORE officials linked to the maizegate scandal in Malawi have been sacked after the commission of inquiry’s trip to Zambia to conclude investigations on the alleged corruption in which the country lost money.

Last week, members of the committee of inquiries set up by Malawian President Peter Mutharika, quizzed UPP leader Saviour Chishimba over his claims that the maize export transaction between Zambia and that country was marred with corruption.

Nyasatimes reports that board of Malawi Energy Regulatory Authority (MERA) has fired its chief executive officer, Raphael Kamoto and director of finance Elias Hausi for diverting K3 billion (Malawian Kwacha) from Price Stabilisation Fund (PSF) to ADMARC in unclear circumstances.

The duo, according to Nyasatimes, were recently sent on forced leave to pave way for investigations into the diversion of the funds to ADMARC.

The energy regulator is said to have diverted the money to enable ADMARC to buy maize but MERA was ordered to refund the K3 billion into the PSF account by Secretary to the Treasury Ronald Mangani in May last year.

The investigations were carried after Minister of Finance, Economic Planning and Development Goodall Gondwe summoned board chairperson of MERA Bishop Joseph Bvumbwe to check on progress on allegations of abuse of office at the institution.