Impostors hit Malawi Parliament

Malawi National Assembly has been hit by a syndicate of tricksters who are allegedly swindling huge sums of money from members of Parliament (MPs) and other members of the public.

The alleged swindlers are said to be posing as employees of the National Assembly and deceive their targets by claiming that they are stranded and require urgent financial assistance.

Acting Clerk of Parliament Roosevelt Gondwe said in a statement the impostors have even been providing cellphone numbers and bank accounts through which money should be sent.

He has since advised all legislators and the public not to entertain the requests made by the said play-actors who request for money through phones, social media like Facebook and e-mails.

And in an interview on Wednesday, National Assembly chief public relations Leonard Mengezi said the impostors have been carrying out their operation since November 2014.

He, however, could not mention some of the victims, saying the matter is still under investigations.

Mengezi said the swindlers intensified their operation immediately after the two-week civil servants vacation.

Mengezi said a number of MPs and members of the general public have been fooled and made substantial payments to the fraudsters through bank accounts and Airtel Money procedure.

There have also been a number of imposters lately who have been swindling money from the public by impersonating Nation Publications Limited (NPL) journalists. Some of them have been arrested.