Former Malawi president declines to appear before anti-corruption body

The 81-year-old Mutharika has described the intimated case against him as a political witch hunt.

RUSTENBURG, July 27 (ANA) – Malawi’s former Malawi president Peter Mutharika has declined to grant the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) an interview to answer allegations that his tax number was used to import cement duty free.

In a statement on Tuesday, Mutharika said the bureau had not disclosed the nature of his alleged offence.

“It is extremely strange that an institution like the ACB with accusatorial and investigative powers would seek to interview me without disclosing the nature of the offence I am accused of. In view of the previous conduct of ACB towards me, I am reluctant to grant this interview,” he said.

Mutharika described the interview as a political witch hunt, and said should the anti graft body insist on the interview, he would listen to their questions but not respond until he was told he had committed an offence.

He said if he — a former president — had to appear before the bureau, then all past leaders of the southern African country and vice presidents who were still alive should also be called to explain how their tax numbers had been used.

The ACB was scheduled to interview Mutharika on Tuesday over allegations that his tax number was used to import about 800,000 bags of cement worth K1.5 billion (about US$1.8 million) without duty.

In terms of the Presidents (Salaries and Benefits) Act, Mutharika had privileges to import items for personal use duty free while he was president.

The cement was allegedly imported from Zimbabwe and Zambia between 2018 and 2019, ostensibly for Mutharika’s personal use. The 81-year-old says he already denied any involvement when fiscal police questioned him in August 2020.

Anti-Corruption Bureau spokesperson Egrita Ndala last week said the interview was part of an on-going probe into allegations of the abuse of the former president’s taxpayer identification number.

Online news outlet Malawi24 reported that former state house chief of staff Peter Mukhito, Mutharika’s former bodyguard Norman Chisale, former Malawi Revenue Authority deputy commissioner general Roza Mbilizi and businessperson Mohammed Chunara were on trial for allegedly using Mutharika’s tax number for the cement imports.

They have been charged with money laundering, abuse of office, falsifying documents with intent to deceive, smuggling as well as aiding and abetting smuggling.

Chisale was arrested after Chunara implicated him, while Mbilizi was picked up for allegedly facilitating the imports.

– African News Agency (ANA), Editing by Stella Mapenzauswa