By Falles Kamanga
Malawi is a sick nation that needs strong dosage to cure corrupt minds in many. Everything we do is better for our families, friend not for a common man in the village who has no voice.
This is exactly happening in the yet to be committed case in which five women were caught with 338 ATM cards suspected for money laundering and forex externalization.
The matter has not yet committed to court for prosecution two week after the women were arrested Kamuzu International Airport (KIA) in the capital Lilongwe on arrival from Dubai.
Now, one lawyer Oscar Taulo is in the media claiming that arrested women are members of ‘chipereganyo’ (Village Savings and Loan Association – VSLA) and that the cards belong to other members who sent them to buy goods in Dubai on their behalf.
Lawyer Taulo, who is representing some of the accused women, said the women have been saving and lending money amongst themselves in their effort to increase access and control over resources and use collective power to overcome social and financial barriers.
Fiscal Police at KIA arrested the five women on their landing from Dubai on suspicion that they were using the cards to externalize forex and launder money.
National Police publicist Peter Kalaya identified the arrests as Sellina Mkandawire 39, Fatima Dziko 35, Diness Mphande 66, Hanifa Osman, 33, and Angella Mphande, 36.
Kalaya said the five were arrested as they landed from the United Dubai in the United Arab Emirates.
They carried ATM cards are from different banks, which law enforcers suspected that they were used to externalize money.
They were granted bail immediately afterwards, a development that raised questions, with others speculating that they were connected to high profile politicians.
But Taulo described the women as ‘genuine businesswomen who have worked so hard to earn what they now have’.
“So, it’s not true that they are connected to any politician let alone a money laundering syndicate. These are innocent and genuine businesswomen and I, as their legal counsel, am determined to prove their innocence when the matter comes for trial,” he said.
Listen, Taulo, Malawians are not fools to be lied to. We know exactly what these women have been doing in this illegal business.
Yes, its your duty to defend anyone in the court of law but on this serious matter amid scarcity of forex, you could have human face to serve this country better than selfish money interests into your pockets.
Taulo, Malawi currently is breeding for mercy: forex shortages has crippled all business transactions coupled with high inflation now at 29.3%.
Malawians expect the truth from President Lazarus Chakwera’s Tonse Alliance government on how these five women are going to be cleared on the illegal business.
Expect friends of the court to join the case when it commences if at all it will happen.
Disclaimer: The views expressed in the article are those of the author not necessarily of The Maravi Post or Editor