Malawi Police Service, MDF, Prison benefit from Cashgate

The government of Malawi has donated three out of six Scania Marcopolo buses bough using Cashgate money to National Police Headquarters , Malawi Police, Malawi Defence Force and Prisons.

The six Cashgate buses worth K520 million ($750 361) have been at National Police Headquarters at Area 30 in Lilongwe since 2013 when Fiscal Police impounded them from the franchise supplier on allegations that they were illegally purchased with funding from the then Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Culture.

The move to purchase the buses was facilitated by Cashgate convict Leonard Kalonga, former employee in the Ministry of Tourism and Culture.

Last month, the High Court Judge in Lilongwe gave government a go ahead to dispose the six buses after an application from State Prosecutor Mary Kachale.

In her application, Kachale argued that the six buses were losing value.

Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs Samuel Tembenu confirmed of the development in an interview with the press.

Tembenu said government is now remaing with three buses and they will also be given out to government department soon.