Tag Archives: Local Development Fund (LDF)

corruption, Law and order, Malawi

ACB arrests Mzimba Hola legislator Mzomera Ngwira over fraudulent LDF school contract deal

Maravi Post Reporter

LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-The country’s graft body, the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Friday arrested Mzimba Hola lawmaker Christopher Mzomera Ngwira for being suspected of fraudulently influenced the awarding of the contract for the construction of Lukwelukwe Teacher’s House project under the Local Development Fund (LDF).

Below is the press statement ACB released and available to The Maravi Post;

7th September, 2010, the Anti-Corruption Bureau received an allegation that Hon Christopher Mzomera Ngwira MP for Mzimba Hola Constituency presented invoices from YOGI and Mzimba Hardware on pretext that they had supplied building materials for Lukwelukwe School Project which is funded under LDF under M’mbelwa District Council.

The Anti- Corruption Bureau conducted investigations into the matter which established that Hon. Ngwira advised the Project Management Committee (PMC) members to sign blank withdrawal slips and told them not to indicate the total amount to be withdrawn and that he on his own indicated MK650, 000.00 on the withdraw form.

On 5th January, 2018, the Anti-Corruption Bureau arrested Hon Christopher Mzomera Ngwira. He is reasonably suspected to have committed an offence under Section 27 (2) of the CPA in that he used his influence as Member of Parliament for Mzimba Hola constituency to award a contract for the construction of Lukwelukwe Teacher’s House project under the LDF programme to Mr. Louis Mtonga of Taonga Shopping Centre in Mzimba when the duty do so is with the Project Management Committee.

Christopher Mzomera Ngwira is reasonably suspected to have committed an offence under Section 271 (2) (e) of the Penal Code in that he on 2nd August 2010 at NBS branch in Mzimba, converted for his own use money amounting to K650, 000.00 meant for Lukwelukwe Teacher’s House Project under the LDF programme.

The Bureau will record a caution statement from him at a later date after he has found a lawyer. Meanwhile he has been taken to Court for bail application.

EGRITA M. NDALA
SENIOR PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER
FOR: DIRECTOR GENERAL

Malawi

Mangochi councillors blocked from sealing DC’s office over MK200 million cashgate

Maravi Post correspondent

Police in Mangochi, the lakeshore district in the eastern region of Malawi, on Tuesday blocked the district’s councillors from shutting down the District Commissioner’s (DC) office over MK200 million cashgate.

Etta Mhango: she benefited from LDF…will others benefit from the LDF like her given the abuse of the funds at the DCs’ office?

The irate Mangochi councillors agreed to seal the DC’s office in relation to the missing of over 200 million Malawi kwacha at the council which was meant for development in the district.

According to the district chairperson Omar Magombo, the police warned them not to close the DC’s office unless they obtained a court order.

“We were ready to shut down the DC’s office because of the missing of over K200 million at the council, however, the police blocked us saying it will be a crime if we do it without a court order,” said Magombo.

Magombo however said as councillors they are much concerned with how the money meant for the development was misused by some individuals at the council.

According to him, the said money were that of the Local Development Fund (LDF) and Constituency Development Fund (CDF).

The councillors are also accusing their Members of Parliament (MPs) for being in forefront in conniving with the officials at the DC’s office to abuse the CDF fund.

Maravi Post understands that the councillors referred the issue to ACB.

Meanwhile, Magombo said they plan to sit down with the community to discuss the way forward on the matter.