LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-The State residences have strongly Condemned the act by some staff members who are using the name of President Lazarus Chakwera to indulge in reprehensible acts that are contrary to the interests and public image of state house.
In a memo signed by the Chief of Staff-State Residences Prince Kapondamgaga, the nature of violations reported includes “soliciting and receiving money from prospective bidders of public procurement in exchange for a promise to influence the awarding of contracts of public goods, services and works, Soliciting money from business owners and parastatals using his Excellency’s name or that of state house and using the name of state house to unlawfully acquire public goods such as public land for public use.
“These acts are unacceptable, unprofessional and constitute gross Indiscipline, and will not be tolerated. They also constitute significant breaches of trust placed in us by his Excellency the President of the Republic of Malawi”, States the memo.
The memo has further highlighted that anyone found to be engaging in such misconducts, irrespective of grade, will be subjected to severe discipline up to and including immediate dismissal.
The state residence calls upon authorities to take part in ending such acts.
The state residence has also reminded all staff that in all strategic plan they committed to desist from acts that are deceitful, unethical, fraudulent, and harmful to the reputation and trust of President.
“The overwhelming majority of us are loyal public servants working hard serving the President of the republic of Malawi as he delivers his national agenda. We have been let down by the actions of few individuals.”
Meanwhile the Management expects all staff to adhere to the Values stipulated in the strategic plan and in their code of conduct at all times and if anyone found to disobey these values, should expect severe sanctions.
State House Chief of Staff Prince Kapondangaga implicated
By Rodgers Kadiso Banda
Inline with the Campaign pledge of President Dr Lazarus Chakwera of ” Zero tolerance to Corruption” , we will be bringing to you Details and a follow up of the Crossroads Hotelgate Corruption Scandal time after that without fear or favour.
Malawians are expecting that the three Statehouse employees involved in the Crossroads Hotelgate scandal will not be shielded as it used to be during the Peter Mutharika’s administration.
These three plus the other three Government Officials who played key roles in this Scandal should face the law.
Let us allow the rule of law to manifest this time. No sacred cows.
The issue of MK65 million payment made to Crossroads Hotel as logging costs by Statehouse for the services not rendered to is real and it is a big form of fraud.
This payment is clearly showing that some Directors at State House are aiding Corruption which is a setback to the Tonse Philosophy.
In this new Malawi Wokomera Tonse let us stop multiplying Corruption . Let us join hands in draining the swamp.
This is a big test to the new leadership whether it will walk tall on its Campaign promise of promoting rule of law and bring an end to Corruption.
On a sad note, this Scandal is tarnishing the good image of President Chakwera and his administration. Ma scandalwa talawilira! Those behind the bogus payment must either resign or be sent on a forced leave to pave way for credible investigations.
The toothless ACB must prove to Malawians that it can bite crooked Asians. The owners of Crossroads are asians.
The Anti Corruption Bureau has a track record of failing to prosecute and investigate High Profile Asians. A good example being Zameer Karim.
Zameer Karim stole ( was caught pants down stealing) MK5 billion government money. And yet he was not sent to jail.
The ACB has also failed to investgate Batawalala.
It’s sad that Hotels owned by Indigenous People like Linde Hotel in Dowa are not given big businesses by Government. Yet the same Government is giving BIG BUSSINESSES TO CROOKED ASIANS.
If this case will not proceed then Malawians will conclude that it is a justified Corruption at the highest levels.
Is there any right thinking Malawian who can defend the stealing of about MK65 Million through bogus payment at Crossroads?
This Hotelgate is shameful!
President Chakwera must demonstrate his servant leadership notion on his corrupt boys at state house, otherwise it will be the same old political lip services Malawians have been enjoying for years.
Disclaimer! The views expressed in this article are the writer’s, they do not reflect the views of The Maravi Post
State House Chief of Staff Prince Kapondangaga implicated
LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-Pressure is mounting on Malawi President Lazarus Chakwera to suspend State house officials implicated in the MK65 million bogus accommodation payment at Crossroads Hotel.
Centre for Democracy and Economic Development Initiatives (CDEDI) says President Chakwera must demonstrate zeal to end corrupt with the statehouse before any government agency.
In a press statement signed by CDEDI Executive Director Sylvester Namiwa and made available to The Maravi Post on Wednesday, October 21, 2020, the grouping challenges Chakwera on the need to bring sanity in his Tonse leadership.
Below is CDEDI full statement:
HOTEL BILLS SAGA: PRESIDENT CHAWKERA SHOULD EXONARATE HIMSELF BY SUSPENDING THOSE IMPLICATED
The Centre for Democracy and Economic Development Initiatives (CDEDI) is appealing to President Dr. Lazarus Chakwera to exonerate himself on hi pledge to fight against corruption at all levels by suspending State House officers that have been implicated in the Crossroads Hotel Bills saga in Lilongwe, to pave the way for thorough investigations on these fraud allegations.
To begin with, President Chakwera should know that Malawians are dismayed with conflicting reports and inconsistent information and statements surrounding the State House and Crossroads Hotel over guests purportedly in the country on security matters.
CDEDI and indeed all well-meaning Malawians nearly dismissed what started as only social media gossip, up until such a time when the Crossroads Hotel management changed tune to confirm receipt of a Cheque worth MK12.5 million as proof of payment from State House.
This change of tune contradicts an earlier statement issued by the hotel, denying receipt of any Local Purchase Order (LPO) from the State House.
The matter attracted even more public interest from the taxpayers when State House Press Officer Mr. Brian Banda was quoted in both The Daily Times and The Nation newspapers of Tuesday, October 20, 2020, where he told the former that “State House cannot comment on the matter as the issue does not serve the interests of Malawians since it is fake news,” and he told the latter that “State House cannot comment on the matter to avoid dignifying fake news.”
These twists and turns on the incident have prompted CDEDI to zero in on the saga, now that there are more questions from Malawians of good will than sensible answers.
The inconsistent responses from Mr. Sameer Sacranie of Crossroads Hotel are enough proof that something very fishy has taken place between the State House and the hotel.
Mr. Sacranie should know that he is dealing with taxpayers’ money, and he should have treated the matter with utmost care, seriousness and in a very transparent and accountable manner.
Similarly, now that the management of Crossroads Hotel has confirmed receipt of payment from the State House, it was the expectation of CDEDI, and indeed all Malawians that the State House Press Office would issue a statement, apologizing to the nation for the deceitful and shameful statements that were issued earlier by Mr. Banda to the media.
On the contrary, the silence from the State House is so deafening, giving an indication that the confirmation of payment by the State House to Crossroads Hotel was not fake news after all!
Mr. Banda lied to Malawians! What is particularly disturbing is the fact that all this is happening at a time when President Chakwera is busy ‘clearing the rubble’ in the country.
The hotel bills saga, therefore, is a big litmus test for the Tonse Alliance led administration, especially on its efforts to crackdown on corruption and theft of public funds.
CDEDI is, therefore, demanding President Chakwera to suspend all the State House officers involved in the Crossroads Hotel bills saga, specifically his Chief of Staff Mr. Prince Kapondamganga and the Director of Finance Mr. Gideon Kumbalu, to pave the way for thorough investigations on the matter.
Should Dr. Chakwera remain mum on this incident, Malawians will then construe that his stance on the fight against corruption in the country is just some political rhetoric, when in actual sense it is political persecution since his administration is only targeting those connected to the immediate past ruling party, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP).
Lastly, but not the least, CDEDI is reminding Dr. Chakwera that time for flowery speeches is over, and that this is now time for action.
President Chakwera is yet to respond on the saga as today is also expected to answer questions in the currently budget seating of Parliament.
LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)– Malawi State House must be in a shame now with Crossroads Hotel revelation that it got MK12.5 million cheques from the presidential palace.
State House Chief of Staff Prince Kapondangaga on Monday, October 19, 2020 told The Nation Newspaper that the hotel had business with Malawi State House.
Sacranie reversed it earlier statement of not dealing with the palace following exposure of alleged rub of plunder at Malawi Statehouse of MK65 million spent on bogus accommodation at Crossroads roads hotel.
But after checking hotel’s records, Sacranie discovered that there was a cheque worth MK12.5 million paid directly from State House account.
However, State House spokesperson Brian Banda on Monday lied to the nation that the allegation was fake.
“Crossroads Hotel as owner of the invoices in question has issued a press statement stating the story in question is fake. As such, State House has no further comment to make on this matter because dignifying fake news with a response does not serve the interest of Malawian people”, ignorantly Banda charges.
Meanwhile, the country’s graft bursting body Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has shown interested to probe the matter further.
This follows demands from rights grouping Centre for Mindset Change (CMC) and Centre for Democracy and Economic Development Initiatives (CDEDI) that the bureau should thoroughly investigate on the alleged rub of plunder at Malawi Statehouse of MK65 million spent on bogus accommodation at Crossroads roads hotel in the capital Lilongwe.
LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-The country’s civil rights grouping Centre for Mindset Change (CMC) and Centre for Democracy and Economic Development Initiatives (CDEDI) are demanding thorough investigation on the alleged rub of plunder at Malawi Statehouse of MK65 million spent on bogus accommodation at Crossroads roads hotel in the capital Lilongwe.
The call comes after The Maravi Post on Sunday, October 18, 2020 exclusively exposed public funds in just four month of President Lazarus Chakwera’s Tonse administration.
The two groupings say the act in which the State House has been involved into the public is a worrying matter needs urgent attention.
CMC Executive director Phillip Kamangirah told The Maravi Post that the grouping is baffled with allegations of theft masterminded by State House Officials under the watch of President Lazarus Chakwera who above all is the anointed man of God who should he exemplary
“As a nation we are already passing through very harsh economic times and it is very insensitive and reckless to see State House leading in defrauding Public Money amidst such hard moments Malawians are passing through.
“We are therefore calling upon President Lazarus Chakwera to take a very tough and bold step in firing those implicated within 24 hours if he is to demonstrate mature leadership that is on the move to zero tolerance in the fight against corruption,” says Kamangirah.
He therefore urges, ‘We also call upon ACB to move with speed and arrest all those officials that are involved and they must quickly secure conviction on the same. This is a matter if urgency and therefore it requires a serious attention.
“As Centre for Mindset Change, we shall not relent in following up this matter up until we see its conclusion. We cant afford to tolerate hypocrisy any more. We have been defrauded enough as a people. We must safeguard our taxes and State House should be the hope for Malawi. President Chakwera must therefore tell Malawians on the action he is taking on this evil plunder of Public money unconsciously and irresponsibly by his State House Officials.
Echoed on the same, CDEDI Executive Director Sylvester Namiawa says President Chakwera should explain the incident to Malawians what this means.
“President Chakwera told Malawians he is clearing the rubble now how serious should he be taken in his crackdown on corruption when the same is happening right from his own house? This matter should be investigated and culprits should be prosecuted.
“The Independence of the ACB Director Reyneck Matemba and Inspector General George Kainja has been put to a litmus test here they should act to assure Malawians or else they sweep it under the carpet then Malawians will judge,” urges Namiwa.
There is still no immediate reaction from State House Spokesperson Brian Banda on the matter.
LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-In a typical of scenario of blatant and shameless theft of public funds, Malawi President Lazarus Chakwera’s State House has captured Crossroads Hotel in the capital Lilongwe as a conduit to steal money from the public purse into private hands, this publication has established with all back-up documents.
This publication understands that the move which commenced on July 5, 2020 has seen State House paying a whopping US$ 300 an equivalent of MK240, 000 per night when the accepted value is MK75, 000 per night.
State House has booked of such dubious rooms meaning taxpayers are parting away with US$1,200 or MK960, 000 per night. On the other hand the master minder of the scam posing as security covert Miguel Elias also known as Kiza Aziz Elias is allegedly hosting a team of security experts from Israel who are in the country to train Malawi Police Service (MPs) Malawi Defense Force, National Intelligence (NIS) and President Lazarus Chakwera’s private security some finer details of close Very Important Persons (VIP) close protecting to defend the new president.
But verified information shows the whole thing is a hoax as it is a money-spinning venture for State House Chief of Staff Prince Kapondangaga and Director of Finance (DOF) Gedion Kalumbu who have connived with Kiza Aziz Elias to externalize forex using the hotel hence the decision to charge the rooms in dollars and hike the price by over 300 percent to make quick money.
State House has so far spent MK65 million kwacha in the shameful amateurish act.
Other costs Malawians taxpayers are paying include, MK 5.5 million kwacha every week as car rentals and per diems. MK 6.2 million weekly in accommodation which for obvious reasons is paid cash and in dollars.
This publication can confidently reveal that Kiza Elias bought himself a Range Rover registration number BW 9991 at a cool MK25 million kwacha from Holesi Kamoto, a transaction that was sealed on August 20, 2020 using the proceeds from mini cash gate.
Is Crossroads Hotel a conduit or an accomplice to steal taxpayers money?
Malawians that are aware of this shocking development at State House less than five months in office cannot help but ask themselves why using Crossroads of all the Hotels is he a buying favours from President Lazarus Chakwera?
Is he part of the beneficiary in the loot? Is the money substantial enough to destroy a refutation Crossroads has belt over the years?
As you are trying to find answers to those mindboggling questions, here are the invoices month as kwacha room at State House generated with State House as a issuance of the purchase order dated August 13 2020 whose guest is only identified as Mr. Zorra whose address is Chitundu Distributors Box 1766 Blantyre.
It is under invoice number 49768 clearly showing State House is paying for a week accommodation at US$300 per night.
You may note the transactions are split into weeks and are paid on an individual basis.
Malawians have all the reason to get worried as since the four arrived in the country it is not clear as to when they will leave Crossroads as Kizza Elias has now bought a boat ready to spend good time at our beautiful lake.
There was no immediate reaction from State House Spokesperson Brian Banda on alleged fraud.
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