Malawi, SA ties remain intact despite expulsion of envoys

Malawian President Lazarus Chakwera has pledged to delegate individuals of high moral standards to Malawi missions abroad, following the expulsion of diplomats from South Africa in a duty free alcohol scandal.

RUSTENBURG, June 14 (ANA) – Diplomatic ties between Malawi and South Africa remains intact, despite the expulsion of its diplomats, local media reported on Monday, citing Malawian foreign affairs Minister Elsienhower Mkaka.

Mkaka told a journalists that despite Malawian diplomats being declared unacceptable amid allegations that they abused their diplomatic powers, nothing would be affected, daily newspaper Nation reported.

He said the diplomats were given three working days, starting Monday, to leave South Africa.

Radio station, Capital FM Malawi reported that Mkaka said the diplomats expelled from South Africa would be disciplined in accordance with the provisions of Malawi’s civil service regulations.

Six diplomats from the High Commission in Pretoria and two in from the Consulate in Johannesburg were declared persona non grata after it was discovered that they were abusing their diplomat status by purchasing large volumes of alcohol duty free and selling it for profit.

Malawian President Lazarus Chakwera in a brief address on Sunday, pledged to delegate individuals of high moral standards to Malawi missions abroad, following the expulsion of the diplomats from South Africa.

In his address Chakwera, said he had spoken to South African President Cyril Ramaphosa about the conduct of the diplomats.

Chakwera said at the time of the expulsion, diplomats were served with letters that they had been recalled and had to return to Malawi.

South Africa has expelled diplomats from Lesotho and Malawi for their involvement in the illicit trade of duty-free alcohol.

In April, media reported that the South African Revenue Service (SARS) had uncovered a scam that foreign diplomats bought large volumes of alcohol at duty free retailers and sold it locally.

Diplomats involved in the tax-dodging scam were reportedly from Rwanda, Lesotho, Ghana, Guinea, Malawi and Burundi.

– African News Agency (ANA); Editing by Naomi Mackay