Speaker of Parliament Richard Msowoya under investigation over tractorgate scandal

FaceofMalawi has established that Public Accounts Committee of Parliament (PAC) is embarking on plans to investigate Speaker of the National Assembly Richard Msowoya for being one of the beneficially in the controversial sale of public farm tractors.

Mid this year, Rumphi East Member of Parliament Kamlepo Kalua took government to task by revealing that some Cabinet Ministers were involved in the dubious sale of farm tractors obtained in 2010 under Export-Import (EXIM) Bank of India line of credit worth US$ 50 million.

After investigations, it was revealed that government civil servants and politicians including Speaker of National Assembly, Richard Msowoya, former vice President Khumbo Kachali, Chief of Staff and operation at State house Peter Mukhito and Foreign Minister Francis Kasaila benefited from the sale.

It is on this basis that PAC plans to thoroughly investigate the speaker and all government officers listed.

Chairperson of the committee Alekeni Menyani confirmed of the development in an interview with the press, saying the committee is not amused with the development.

“We are going to probe all the 68 officers who were mentioned, but you see the speaker is the one who is the presiding officer of the oversight function, and we want to find out whether he had deliberately not examined the circumstances in which the tractors were sold because he knew they were bought to benefit Malawians.

“We want to know why he was found on the list; on what grounds he decided to be part of this, so the investigations require us to investigate all the 68 but him being the head, he tops the list,” said Menyani.

Meanwhile Msowoya has said he is not shaken by the move taken by the committee.

Msowoya said he followed proper procedures in buying the said tractor.

“I have no problem with that, I welcome it. I wish them all the best if they need my support I will be there to help them,” challenged Msowoya.