APM ANNOUNCES TO PUNISH CASHGATE SUSPECTS ACCORDINGLY

Malawi President Peter Mutharika has pledged that he is committed to bringing to book all those involved in siphoning of government money which has become to be known as cash-gate.

The President said it was sad to note that donors could decide to withhold aid to Malawi because of an organized syndicate in which some people were siphoning money from government coffers for personal gratification.

“The donors pulled out they pulled out because of the cashgate and it has never happened in the world that a syndicate could be organized by somebody somewhere to siphon money from the government for whatever reason, It’s beyond corruption and also sinister. I hope that does not happen again,” bemoaned Mutharika.

Mutharika further assured all Malawians that he would, within the bounds of the constitution and with respect to everybody’s rights, prosecute anybody whoever it might be based on thorough investigations and availability of tangible evidence.

“Three months ago I took an oath of office to uphold the constitution and respect the laws of Malawi. So I have that obligation, if somebody should break the law, no matter who they are.

Mutharika said he is aware that the donors are saying they will come back only when the people involved in cashgate are brought before the law and that they must be convinced that there is proper financial management.

“On the first issue, we are in fact prosecuting those involved while on the second issue we are undertaking civil service reforms particularly in financial management.

“But I can assure you, we had lost our way I think, we had lost track, the law was there and the law required accountability, reporting and so forth but somehow along the way, we lost track, things were happening without following rules and procedures that’s where the problem was and as I have said before, in our society or every society, if leaders fail to distinguish between right and wrong, when anything goes, when the end justifies the means, that’s a prescription for destruction,” emphasised Mutharika.