PP should not blame past regimes—DPP

The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) has asked the ruling People’s Party (PP) not to hide behind the country’s corruption in the wake of public funds  looting at Capital Hill.

In a statement released on Monday and signed by DPP secretary general Jean Kalilani, the party asks President Joyce Banda’s administration to take “full” responsibility for the financial mess that has rocked the seat of government in Lilongwe.

The DPP’s statement comes at a time government has announced a forensic audit on the looting of public funds through the suspended Integrated Financial Management Information System (Ifmis) introduced in 2005 by the DPP administration.

Reads Kalilani’s statement in part: “It is our view that President Joyce Banda’s administration bears ultimate responsibility for the widespread corruption in her government, and for the issues surrounding the near killing of [Ministry of Finance budget director] Paul Mphwiyo.

“We are troubled that instead of telling the nation what measures and policies her administration is putting in place to arrest the rampant corruption that is bringing the country to its knees due to heartless looting by her officials, President Banda’s administration is trying to shirk its responsibility by providing Malawians with the history of corruption in the country.”

Kalilani says the ongoing looting of funds from the public purse at Capital Hill should not be connected to previous regimes because it is happening under the current Banda administration.

She says Malawians are waiting for Banda to give more details on her remarks that she knows Mphwiyo’s attackers and their motive, adding the current financial mess at Capital Hill presents an opportunity for Banda to demonstrate her commitment to combating corruption.

“In acting swiftly to unravel the Mphwiyo shooting mystery, declaring her assets and dismissing all government and People’s Party officials involved or suspected to have indulged in corruption, President Joyce Banda will reassure Malawians of  her commitment to combating corruption, misconduct, criminal activity, conflicts of interest, gross mismanagement and abuse of authority,” adds Kalilani’s statement.

But in an interview yesterday, Kunkuyu said the audit will cover the entire period in which Ifmis has been in use without targeting specific individuals or administrations.

“It’s not an issue of government being in a defensive mode. The system has been there since 2005. We want to find out things which have been done with the system now and in the past. If we just look at the current time, it may mean that some people will run away scot-free,” said Kunkuyu.