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 ACB zeroes in on Mdf-Sattar deals

 The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has recorded caution statements from a number of Malawi Defence Force (MDF) officers, including six senior officers, in relation to ongoing investigations into alleged corrupt dealings with UK-based

businessperson Zuneth Sattar, we can reveal.

Our impeccable sources said the senior officers include one major general, two brigadiers, two colonels as well as a civilian seconded to MDF, whose names appear on the list of 84 public and private sector officials named in the bureau’s investigation report which ACB director general Martha Chizuma submitted to President Lazarus Chakwera in June this year.

MDF Commander General Vincent Nundwe confirmed in a telephone interview on Thursday that those who have had their statements recorded are from Commandant, Logistics and Legal sections.

Nundwe also disclosed that ACB recorded a statement from him. He, however, could not give the exact number of officers interviewed so far.

Said Nundwe: “ACB wants to understand procurement procedures at MDF so they have been summoning officers to give statements and I also had my statement taken.”

According to the ACB report, between 2017 and 2021, Malawi Police Service and MDF awarded 16 contracts worth $150 million to five companies belonging to the United Kingdom–based businessperson.

Under probe: Sattar

The MDF contracts include food ration packs worth $7 866 000, anti-riot equipment valued at $28 650 500.00, six armoured trucks (water cannons) at $10 524 000 and 32 armoured personal carriers worth $19 993 600.00.

Documents we have seen show that MDF on April 30 2021 wrote the Public Procurement and Disposal of Assets (PPDA) requesting for single sourcing to procure Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs) from a company called Malachite FZE at a total contract price of $19 993 600.00.

On May 12 2021 PPDA granted a ‘No Objection’ valid for 90 days for procurement of 32 APCs on condition that it is approved by the Secretary to the President and Cabinet and that the draft contract be reviewed and vetted by the Government Contracting Unit and Ministry of Justice.

Treasury on April 27 2021 responded to the MDF letter of April 13 2021 Number Q/221 requesting for the funds and advised that due to financial constraints, the payment for the procurement be spread over a period of three financial years starting from 2021/22.

Reads the letter Ref No STF/2/271: “The first payment of 25 percent of the contract amount should be scheduled to be made in 2021/22 financial year, the second payment of 50 percent should be in the 2022/23 financial year and the last payment of 25 percent should be planned for 2023/24 financial year.”

Published reports show that the procurement of the APCs was irregular as it was done without a budget and a plan as well as prior allocation of resources by Treasury.

Sources who spoke to Weekend Nation also said that Nundwe has already taken action on some of the senior officers by redeploying them to new offices to allow for smooth investigations by the ACB officers and also to avoid interference. According to the sources, the redeployments took place last week.

But while admitting that some officers have been transferred, Nundwe denied that the changes have anything to do with the Sattar probe.

According to him, the transfers that have been made at MDF are as result of several internal factors which he could not disclose.

Said Nundwe: “I have indeed effected some changes but the actions taken do not relate to the investigations at hand. I haven’t seen the ACB report and do not know who the suspects are in the probe by ACB. We are all still waiting and therefore without such information I cannot act.”

The MDF Commander nonetheless indicated that once suspects have been officially identified appropriate action will follow, adding that MDF is

expecting a swift investigation  by the graft-bursting body to get to the bottom of the matter.

Said Nundwe: “Some staff may have been transferred to other offices and new officers took over; so the interrogations may take a bit more time but we are cooperating and looking forward to completion of the process”.

The source further indicated that ACB has for over a month been requesting for documents relating to contracts awarded to Sattar and that some of the documents have already been submitted to them while others are awaiting clearance from seniors.

 The requested documents are mostly from the procurement department where several staff have also been interviewed by ACB officers, said the sources.

The MDF Commander nonetheless indicated that once the suspects have been officially identified then appropriate action will follow adding that MDF is expecting a swift investigation by the graft-bursting body so as to get to the bottom of the matter.

After ACB presented the report to him, Chakwera fired Police Inspector General George Kainja and suspended State Residences chief of staff Prince Kapondamgaga as well as Public Procurement and Disposal of Assets (PPDA) board chairperson John Suzi-Banda for their alleged involvement in the Sattar alleged corrupt dealings.

Chakwera also withheld his delegated functions from Vice-President Saulos Chilima who was also mentioned in the report pending investigations.

But Chakwera faulted the report, arguing that it contains no information or description on what the Vice-President, chief of staff and PPDA board chairperson did in relation to the five contracts it was investigating.

In a brief response to our questionnaire yesterday, ACB spokesperson Egrita Ndala said the bureau cannot share any information on the issue at the momemnt

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