PPM demands seriousness on cashgate

The opposition People’s Progressive Movement (PPM) has asked government to approach the Capital Hill cashgate scandal with seriousness the matter deserves.

Government, through the Ministry of Information, has more than once argued that it is seriously tackling the matter, citing arrests of some civil servants and businesspersons.

PPM president Mark Katsonga Phiri told a news conference in Blantyre yesterday that governing People’s Party (PP) must take a bold step to force all Cabinet ministers that presided over the rotten system to resign.

Katsonga Phiri said it would be difficult for investigators to carry out thorough investigations on politicians that are still clinging to their positions.

He said it is unfortunate that President Joyce Banda, instead of suspending

former Ministry of Finance budget director Paul Mphwiyo, moved him to the Office of the President and Cabinet (OPC).

The PPM president said it is in the public domain that some of the PP’s fleet of vehicles was donated by some of the suspects in the cashgate scandal and that the vehicles have not been confiscated.

On the controversial presidential jet, PPM said government must come

out clearly to explain to Malawians following revelations that the jet, which was purportedly sold, had been flying President Joyce Banda around.

“The question is: Who is receiving the proceeds from the hire? Is this not the same cashgate scandal at another level? Who are the culprits this time?” Katsonga Phiri said.

PPM also demanded government to pay Malawians who worked in South African mines and former Malawi Young Pioneer (MYP) employees their dues.

Katsonga Phiri, who announced that his party would for the first time feature a presidential candidate in this year’s polls, also tore apart the Farm Input Fertiliser Subsidy Programme (Fisp), arguing it has not benefited farmers.

He said Malawi has spent over K500 billion of taxpayers’ money over the past eight years in Fisp but Malawians continue to die of hunger or government continue buy maize for people.