Malawi President Joyce Banda has said director of budget Paul Mphwiyo has a lot to explain following his shooting in September and a series of arrests following looting of public funds.
Banda was responding to questions from the media during a press briefing held at Sanjika Palace in Blantyre upon her arrival from the UN General Assembly, US today.
The president who sounded angry at times denied ‘knowing people who shot Mphwiyo’ saying investigations were still underway.
However, she indicated that she thought people who shot Mphwiyo were against the fight against corruption and fraud.
Banda admitted that 30 percent of Malawi Government money has been going down the drain through fraud and corruption.
“Corruption has been going on for the past 20 years or so. In fact, the recent K61 billion saga [Bingu Mutharika case] and K404 million cases woke me up on the plunder in the government. It’s obvious that public funds have been lost through fraud and corruption.
The K404 million (US$1 112 947) fraud case was stopped, I want it resumed,” Banda said.
Banda added that she recently held a meeting with Minister of Finance Ken Lipenga on the flaws of the government payment system the IFMIS, where she ordered Lipenga to close the loopholes in the system.
“While we were doing that I got information that director of budget has been shot. I am pleased that he is doing fine and he will explain what he knows,” she said.
