Goodall swells Cashgate war chest
Malawi’s Minister of Finance, Economic Planning and Development Goodall Gondwe says government is putting up additional resources to strengthen the fight against corruption and ensure the successful investigation and prosecution of the Capital Hill Cashgate scandal.
Speaking in an interview, Gondwe said government was leaving no stone unturned in order to ensure that justice is served on those who took part in the scandal—a K13 billion embezzlement of public funds.
The subsequent failed assassination of former budget director Paul Mphwiyo on September 13, 2013 as he entered his Area 43 mansion by gunmen who seriously wounded the official attracted national and worldwide attention to the scandal.
“What is happening is that we are giving the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), the Ministry of Justice in particular the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP) and others more resources so that they should do more in their pursuit for what happened,” said Gondwe.
Gondwe, however, failed to give the exact figure government will commit to the cause but insisted that the resources will be substantial and give the investigators an extra urge.
“These are local resources from the budget. It’s a sign of commitment by government to ensure we rid corruption and also come to the bottom of Cashgate,” added Gondwe.
The move comes as the country continues to suffer from the impact of the scandal, with the Finance Minister recently revealing Treasury was struggling with budget formulation following the pull out of some crucial western donors from budgetary support.
