Former Malawian president Mutharika to face Anti-Corruption Bureau over cement scandal

Peter Mutharika’s tax number was used to import cement worth about US$1.8 million duty-free. He has denied instructing anyone to import cement on his behalf.

RUSTENBURG, July 19 (ANA) – Former Malawian president Peter Mutharika will this week appear before the country’s Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) in connection with the 1.5 billion Malawian kwacha (about US$1.8 million) cement scandal.

ACB spokesperson Egrita Ndala said Mutharika’s appearance before the anti-graft body was part of the ongoing investigation into the allegations of abuse of his taxpayer identification number.

“The ACB will interview the former president, Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika, from 20th July, 2021. The bureau would like to let Malawians know that this is a normal and legal process which started in 2020. The ACB hopes that this will put the record straight on the various stories circulating in the social media surrounding this matter,” Ndala said in a statement.

Mutharika’s taxpayer identification number was allegedly used to import 800,000 bags of cement worth K1.5 billion duty-free.

In terms of the Presidents (Salaries and Benefits) Act, Mutharika had the privilege to import items for personal use, duty-free.

The bags of cement were imported from Zimbabwe and Zambia between 2018 and 2019 under the pretext that they were for the personal use of Mutharika.

According to Malawian media reports, Mutharika has denied involvement in the illegal importation, stating that he did not know his tax number had been used to import cement and he did not instruct anyone to import cement on his behalf.

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 businessman Mohammed Chunara are on trial for allegedly using the former president’s tax number to import cement.

The charges they are facing include money laundering, abuse of office, falsifying documents with intent to deceive, smuggling, and aiding and abetting smuggling.

Chisale was arrested Chunara implicated him in the scandal.

Mbilizi was arrested for allegedly facilitating the importation of the cement.

According to local media reports, the ACB froze Mutharika’s two bank accounts. One is his personal bank account and other is a joint account with his wife, Getrude Mutharika.

– African News Agency (ANA); Editing by Yaron Blecher