State Witness Tells Court Government Was Sold Old Military Vehicles by SF International

A State witness has told the High Court Commercial Division in Lilongwe that businessperson Shiraz Ferreira, of SF International, supplied old and used military vehicles to the Malawi Defence Force (MDF) in 2012, despite a contract requirement for new equipment.

The witness, Flattery Nkhata, an investigator at the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), testified that the vehicles delivered were contrary to the contract’s specifications, which required new, recent-model vehicles with updated features.

“Upon receiving the vehicles and distributing them, there were reports that the vehicles had problems,” Nkhata said. “The supplier had given us used and old vehicles but did not disclose this at the time of delivery.”

Nkhata also stated that MDF records showed the supplied vehicles, including Samil cargo trucks and Pumas, developed faults shortly after being put into use. He added that Malawi Revenue Authority (MRA) documents confirmed the vehicles were manufactured between 1980 and 1988.

Ferreira is claiming $7.1 million from the government as part of a broader $30 million contract for military hardware supplied between 2012 and 2017. He argues that the claim is due to delayed payments and legal collection fees.

During cross-examination, Chief State Advocate Thabo Chakaka Nyirenda told the court that some of the vehicles sold to the government by SF International were so outdated. This comment came as the prosecution presented pictures of some of the vehicles in question, linking them to MRA records.

Earlier, defense lawyer Shiraz Ferreira Shabir Khan questioned Nkhata about how SF International secured the contracts, the type of goods supplied, and the payments the government made under the agreement.