Swindlers cash in on First Lady

Conmen have ‘pounced on’ State House by going around the country posing as employees from the Office of the First Lady to swindle unsuspecting and underprivileged individuals.

Presidential press secretary Brian Banda confirmed yesterday, saying State House has so far received three cases where individuals were tricked to pay in exchange of employment at the First Lady’s office and Shaping Our Future Foundation.

He said: “We realised about this last week when a lady travelled all the way from Chitipa to State House entrance claiming to have been promised to come and start a job.

“The victim reportedly paid K150 000 to an unknown lady who claimed to have come from the office of the First Lady. She actually sold her goats to raise the money and this really touched us.”

However, Banda said the cases they have recorded and the matter have been reported to law enforcers.

In a statement yesterday, he said: “These individuals, who are criminals, are even demanding payment in exchange for a chance to be employed by the First Lady’s office and her Shaping Our Future Foundation.”

State House has since cautioned the public against such conmen and has advised them to be vigilant and report any fraudulent overtures by them to police.

Social and security commentator Alex Chisiano said if the development is not checked the State House may find itself in a compromised fraudulent position that would discredit its standing, principles and the Tonse Alliance philosophy.

“Opportunists would take advantage to taint the objectives of the foundation and State House.

“The danger would extend to people thinking that this government is no different from the former,” he said.