MLS queries ‘Blue Night’ donations; DPP says ‘zachamba’

Malawi Law Society (MLS) has joined the condemnation of donations to the governing Democratic Progress Party (DPP) by State enterprises in a fund-raising drive branded ‘Blue Night’ and has demanded a refund to the agencies.

But DPP secretary general (SG) Greselder Jeffrey has described the calls by MLS and other civil society organisations (CSOs) as “zachamba [nonsense]” and a waste of time.

MLS said in a statement yesterday it has written DPP, condemning the manner in which it mobilised finances from government agencies, most of whom are financially struggling.

In a letter dated August 7 2017 addressed to the DPP SG and copied to the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament, Secretary to the Treasury, the Auditor General, the Attorney General and board chairpersons of parastatal organisations, MLS accuses DPP of committing one of the worst forms of misuse and abuse of public funds.

The letter, signed by MLS chairperson Khumbo Bonzoe Soko, states that any form of donation of public funds to political parties, including the party running government affairs, represents one of the worst forms of misuse and abuse of public funds.

Reads the letter in part: “The Society has learnt with extreme dismay that at or during the fundraising event held by DPP and termed ‘Blue Night’, the party was offered money in form of pledges and in some instances actually received money from parastatals and other government agencies.

“The issue concerning management of public funds is an issue of law. Such being the case, the Society feels duty-bound to register its protestation in the strongest terms possible, the blatant misuse and abuse of public funds by parastatal organisations and other government agencies.”

MLS also faults the “donor parastatals” for making donations without following set-down rules and requirements in public finance management and demanded that they be held accountable.

Reads the MLS call: “As a matter of law, every public expenditure, be it by the government, statutory body or any government agency, requires appropriation.

“According to Section 178 of the Constitution of Malawi and Section 23 of the Public Finance Management Act, not a single kwacha of public money should be expended unless the expenditure has been authorised by an Appropriation Act or is a statutory expenditure.”

The Society stresses that the DPP has both a legal and moral duty not to accept the donations and actually pay back the funds, which it has appropriated.

But in reaction, Jeffrey dismissed the calls, describing them as nonsense.

She said: “Zimenezo ndiye timati zachamba. Iwowo angamutchule amene adawakakamiza kuti apereke ndalama? Zimenezo ndiye zachamba. Tisatayisane nthawi apa. Mwinanso mwayimbira munthu wolakwika. [That is nonsense! Can they name the party official who forced the parastatals and councils to donate to the party? Let us not waste each other’s time.”

On July 29 2019, DPP held a fundraising dinner and dance at Kamuzu Palace in Lilongwe where Blantyre City Council (BCC), Mzuzu City Council (MCC) and Lilongwe Water Board (LWB), among others, made financial contributions totaling K13.5 million.

Mzuzu-based Youth and Society (YAS) executive director Charles Kajoloweka’s demand for the refund of the money was received with slurs from the DPP vice-president for the Centre Hetherwick Ntaba.