Lutepo quits politics
Businessperson Oswald Lutepo, who has been arrested and charged with money laundering in the Capital Hill cash-gate, has quit politics, including his position as People’s Party (PP) deputy director of recruitment.
But the party, which has already suspended Lutepo and director of legal affairs Ralph Kasambara pending their cases in relation to the cash-gate, on Sunday said it has not yet been communicated to.
Lutepo, speaking through his lawyer Jai Banda, said he has also forgone his ambition to contest as a member of Parliament (MP) for Kasungu North Constituency on PP ticket, where President Joyce Banda drummed up support for him when she held a rally in the constituency about three months ago.
However, Lutepo’s decision follows the party’s move to summon him and Kasambara to a disciplinary hearing and later a decision over the weekend that the two have been suspended from the party.
But Banda, in an interview on Sunday, said Lutepo had planned to announce his quitting from politics soon after his release on bail.
Said Banda: “My client was optimistic that he was going to be released on bail last week, and was prepared to make this announcement. He has completely quit politics; he wants to concentrate on his businesses.”
Banda said Lutepo has given no reasons but would be able to do so when he is released from Zomba Central Prison where he is being held alongside Kasambara, who is facing a charge of attempted murder of Ministry of Finance budget director Paul Mphwiyo.
The High Court in Zomba granted Lutepo bail on Thursday, but said he would be released on December 6 to allow the State to finalise investigations. For Kasambara, the High Court in Lilongwe will on November 22 make a ruling on his bail application.
Banda said following his decision to quit, Lutepo is not under any obligation to appear before the party’s disciplinary committee.
PP deputy publicity secretary Ken Msonda said the party would wait to see the reasons why he has quit, but added that it is his constitutional right to do so.
Billions of kwacha have been stolen from government coffers and the State accuses Lutepo of pocketing K2.6 billion (about $6.5m) through suspected bogus payments for services he never rendered.
This is another plot by PP party to hoodwink the masses. It is a well crafted plot. All these developments have been agreed between Lutepo and the party. The idea is for Lutepo not to appear before a disciplinary meeting where sources of his funds and donations to the party could be discussed because if that were to happen, it could be used against him in the case but also the PP would continue to be in the spotlight – associated with his clandestine activities. The noble thing for the PP party is to return all goods and vehicles that Lutepo donated because that makes the party an accomplice to the theft. Where is CAMA and CONGOMA to lead in the recovery of these vehicles. The money to buy the vehicles was stolen from government, it belongs to Malawians. As CSOs engage in citizen arrests and occupy state houses, please confiscate these vehicles as well. ACB and police will not act on PP. Only if they were independent and professional. You can be assured.
This really astounds me. Lutepo in his mind thinks that everything should be just as normal. He gets out and then focusses on his business and why because there is no case against him, really? Your company gets billions of kwachas for nothing, which is complete fraud and outright theft and you think you deserve to be on e outside? Tell me, who should be free to deal business with you? Everyone is watching closely this and there is no way you can ever be free after this. People who have stolen so little are languishing in jail right now and makes you think that you deserve to be free? People are dying in hospitals from treatable diseases because you and your friend decided to use public funds as your own.
PP here has to tread carefully. Life is going to be so tough for the majority of Malawians because of fraud and lack of sincererity from this government to deal with the problem. How long do you think people will be patient enough just to let you what you want? As nation, we need to be serious with ourselves and so far there is nothing to show for it
You should not be astounded. In the eyes of the law, the man is not guilty. Thus he has every right to make plans for continuing his businesses. If the courts fail to prove that he acted fraudulently, the man has every right to continue his life. Lets not act emotionally here by judging him through the media.