LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)- The Malawi Police at Area 3 Station in the capital Lilongwe, are keeping in custody Citizen for Justice (CFJ) Executive Director (ED) Reinford Mwangonde, for allegedly defrauding donor agencies.
Mwangonde, who is the husband of the Malawi’s Ombudsman, Martha Chizuma-Mwangonde, was this week, arrested after he was suspected to have defrauded numerous donor agencies including Tilitonse Fund, the European Union Commission, Oak Foundation, Action Aid, Irish Rule of Law and GIZ. In the charges he is believed to have declared projects he was supposed to undertake were not completed within the specified timeline.
Sources privy to the matter, told The Maravi Post that Reinford and his accomplice, Nathan Chathyoka sold organizational project vehicles from the donor communities without their knowledge.
Both will also answer charges related to possession of unlicensed pistol.
“Chathyoka who was caught with a gun in Salima, has spilled beans that the gun belongs to Reinford and that the two of them were involved in organized crimes in Salima and Lilongwe,” revealed the sources.
A few months ago, the CFJ ED Mwangonde sold a Ford Everest to Karonga Member of Parliament (MP) Frank Tumpale Mwenefumbo, the vehicle which belonged to the donors.
Mwangonde also defrauded many people and businesses in Malawi including some prominent hotels for lodging and conferencing costs.
The source added that due to heavy debt Reinford failed to pay CFJ employees for the past eight months; the office have since been sealed by Sheriff’s.
The CFJ offices were locked because of money Mwangonde owes MPICO the fraudulent cheques he issued to the organization.
“Reinford is deep in debts, such that recently he lost his deluxe car because of defaulting a loan he took from a Lilongwe-based business man.
It is alleged that his wife, Martha, the Ombudsman is fed up with the husband behavior, that she is seeking for divorce, a sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said.
Central Region Police Spokesperson Nolliet Chihana, asked for more time to verify the arrest of Mwangonde over the matter.