JB’s Mudzi Trust defrauded

Mudzi Transformation Trust, one of President Joyce Banda’s pet projects, has been defrauded about K18.5 million (US$44 048) through a bank account domiciled at Standard Bank Zomba Branch.

Counterfeit cheques were used, according to police, to defraud the trust financed by public funds.

Police, confirming the fraud which reportedly happened a few weeks ago, said they are yet to trace and arrest the suspects.

Eastern Region Police spokesperson Thomeck Nyaude confirmed in an interview yesterday that unknown person(s) defrauded Mudzi Transformation Trust, adding police were investigating the matter.

Said Nyaude: “We got a report about the theft. We are investigating the matter by looking at the sequence of the bank withdrawals, among other ways.”

He did not have the actual dates the alleged fraud took place and the amount involved, only hinting that it is in millions.

But our sources said the alleged defrauders have links to the governing People’s Party (PP).

Banda launched the trust in May 2013 at Nthoso Village, Traditional Authority (T/A) Khongoni in Lilongwe.

Mudzi Transformation Trust is a five-year presidential initiative project that seeks to provide good shelters for vulnerable Malawians, access to potable water as well as ensuring food security and nutrition to the poor.

The project’s executive director, Macward Themba, said the money injected has enabled the initiative to, by far, complete the construction of over 500 houses for the vulnerable and low-income households as well as rehabilitation of some other social amenities in various sites.

The project’s main focus of activities is rehabilitation of houses that include roofing and in some cases construction of new houses.