BLANTYRE-(MaraviPost)—Malawi Police have arrested the controversial Deputy Commissioner General of Malawi Revenue Authority (MRA), Roza Mbilizi, in connection with the importation of duty free cement worth K3.2 billion and other illegal deals at the tax collecting body.
According to impeccable sources, Mbilizi has been arrested today in the afternoon.
Last month, it was revealed that former President Peter Mutharika imported 400,000 bags of cement worth K3.2 billion without paying duty between 2018 and 2019.
While Mutharika, as president at the time, was allowed by the law to import items for personal use without paying duty, the amount of bags of cement raised concerns leading to the probe.
Mbilizi is embroiled in the scandal because she facilitated clearance of the duty-free cement.
According to reports, Mbilizi’s relation Lodzani Fatchi also used Mutharika’s duty free status to import cement which he later sold. Other goods were also imported into the country without duty being paid.
Legal experts have always argued that the provision for duty free imports is open to abuse.
In 2012, Mbilizi was also arrested over abuse of office and theft and particulars of the charges were that in March 2011 she fraudulently converted K296 966 (about $742) and K403 324 (about $1 008) to her use and abused her office by directing World Travel Agent to book her a business class air ticket.
She was also accused of not refunding $1 950, being allowances paid into her visa card, for a cancelled trip to the UK.
Mbilizi was around March 2011 allowed by MRA to travel to South Africa for medical check-up and her employers processed upkeep allowances and accommodation but was overpaid by 18 000 South Africa Rands.
MRA suspended her when Fiscal Police arrested her.