Minister delays Cashgate statement

Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs Samuel Tembenu yesterday failed to present a statement to Parliament again on the findings of the six months forensic audit and update on Cashgate cases.

Tembenu had on Monday told The Nation in an interview at Parliament that he would present the ministerial statement yesterday afternoon.

But yesterday, the government side of the House skipped the ministerial statement again and proceeded to table tax bills contained on a supplementary Order Paper.

However, no member of Parliament (MP) queried Tembenu on why he had failed to present the much-awaited statement on Cashgate again.

His statement was expected to contain information on the findings of the forensic audit containing names of individuals and companies involved in the siphoning of about K13.1 billion between April and September 2013.

On Monday, after Leader of House Francis Kasaila informed the House that the ministerial statement on Cashgate was the next business on the floor, Tembenu said he was not ready.

Said Tembenu: “Last Friday, I received the final report from the Auditor General, but since I was already working on a ministerial statement, I thought to include details of the findings of that report. I believe I need to furnish the House with a full report.”

But Joseph Njobvuyalema of Malawi Congress Party (MCP) protested the delay, saying Cashgate was an old issue and Malawians were waiting in anticipation to hear progress on the cases for a long time.

The notice of the statement has been appearing on the order paper for the past two weeks, according to Njobvuyalema.