Tag Archives: Thabo Chakaka Nyirenda

Law and order

CDEDI dates Attorney General Thabo Nyirenda on Abdul Karim Batatawala’s claims demand of MK250 bn

Maravi Post Reporter

LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-The country’s civil right group Centre for Democracy and Economic Development Initiatives (CDEDI) has penned Attorney General (AG) Thabo Chakaka Nyirenda of suspected testing waters from the general public on his views that Indian businessman Abdul Karim Batatawala’s claims demand of MK250 billion.

CDEDI wants clarification from AG Nyirenda on the matter arguing that other quarter of the society are the view that AG’s remarks aimed at seeking public sympathy that Batatawala gets the toxic legal funds.

Sources within President Lazarus Chakwera’s Tonse administration told The Maravi Post that Batatawala is a secrete scheme with Malawi Congress Party (MCP) to deal with any other Indian businessmen who were contracted to supply goods and services with the former governing President Peter Mutharika’s Democratic Progressive Party (DPP).

MCP leadership wants be benefit from the payout once is made hence the Nyirenda seeking sympathy from the public.

Chakwera’s Tonse admin clearing Abdul Karim Batatawala way to benefit from MK250bn toxic deal demands

In a letter dated November 11, 2021 signed by CDEDI Executive Director Sylvester Namiwa addressing to Finance to AG Nyirenda copied to Minister Felix Mlusu and Malawi Parliament’s Public Affairs Committee (PAC) Chairperson Shadric Namalomba demands on justification for paying Batatawala.

“CDEDI would like to make inquiries on behalf of the marginalized masses, who are under the yoke of punitive taxes, on all the claims that are being made by Batatawala and all the other claimants, as follows:Were the contracts genuine?Were the contracts awarded on merit?Were the laws of Malawi followed to the letter in the whole tender process? You were quoted in the same article as having said that in most cases, these private firms never supplied any service or goods to the people of Malawi. Are the claims justifiable then?

“For your own information, there is widespread speculation from some sectors of the society, that your appointment to the office of the AG, was among other reasons, made in order to help facilitate claims of firms that are particularly connected to the Tonse Alliance major partner, the Malawi Congress Party (MCP), hence the CDEDI’s appeal to your office to move the courts on the matter,” reads part of the letter.

CDEDI added, “CDEDI is appealing to the Minister of Finance, Hon. Felix Mlusu, and the Chairperson for the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Parliament, Hon. Shadric Namalomba (MP), to intervene on the matter.

“It is worth noting that such claims are coming at a time when the public health sector is on its knees, due to inadequate funding leading to loss of lives from preventable diseases and conditions, as a result of scarcity of essential drugs and medicines”.

AG Nyirenda was replaced with Chikosa Silungwe after failed to please MCP leadership on legal advises.

Below is CDEDI letter to AG Nyirenda on Batatawala:

Dear Sir, 

RE: MK2 TRILLION PAYOUTS TO PRIVATE FIRMS

The Centre for Democracy and Economic Development Initiatives (CDEDI), has been called to duty once again, and writes you Hon. Attorney General (AG), with reference to the above stated subject.

The Sunday Times dated November 7, 2021 carried a screaming headline ‘MK2TN CLAIMS SADDLE GOVT,’ in which the paper reported that the Malawi Government is struggling to settle claims in excess of MK2 trillion from private firms, contractors and companies, emanating from legal compliance anomalies.

In the said article, apart from confirming the shocking development, you were also quoted as having said that the majority of such claims are made in instances where such companies never supplied any services or goods to the people of Malawi, but rather government was found in breach of terms of contract.

Hon. Attorney General, CDEDI would like to bring to your attention this specific quote from you: “The claims are more than our annual budget, technically in excess of MK2 trillion. There are some firms that have just so many demands, I will give you an example of Batawala; him alone has cumulative claims of about MK250 billion. There are court judgments, we are appealing and defending in all those cases.”

Just to put it into perspective, MK250 billion is enough to finance the Affordable Input Programme (AIP), targeting 3.7 million beneficiaries in Malawi. It is against this background that well-meaning Malawians breathed a sigh of relief, when they heard from the same article that the Attorney General’s office has stepped up efforts to save the taxpayers’ funds.

However, CDEDI would like to make inquiries on behalf of the marginalized masses, who are under the yoke of punitive taxes, on all the claims that are being made by Batatawala and all the other claimants, as follows:

  1. Were the contracts genuine?
  2. Were the contracts awarded on merit?
  3. Were the laws of Malawi followed to the letter in the whole tender process?
  4. You were quoted in the same article as having said that in most cases, these private firms never supplied any service or goods to the people of Malawi. Are the claims justifiable then?

We believe all these questions can ably be answered, and amicably resolved in court. CDEDI is, therefore, urging the AG’s office to challenge all these claims in court, in the spirit of saving the taxpayers’ money.

For your own information, there is widespread speculation from some sectors of the society, that your appointment to the office of the AG, was among other reasons, made in order to help facilitate claims of firms that are particularly connected to the Tonse Alliance major partner, the Malawi Congress Party (MCP), hence the CDEDI’s appeal to your office to move the courts on the matter.

In the same vein, CDEDI is appealing to the Minister of Finance, Hon. Felix Mlusu, and the Chairperson for the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Parliament, Hon. Shadric Namalomba (MP), to intervene on the matter.

It is worth noting that such claims are coming at a time when the public health sector is on its knees, due to inadequate funding leading to loss of lives from preventable diseases and conditions, as a result of scarcity of essential drugs and medicines.

As per your tradition of promptly responding to the issues that are bordering on matters of national interest, which is a very commendable gesture, CDEDI is looking forward to seeing action being taken by your good office on this matter, very speedily.  

Yours Faithfully,

Sylvester Namiwa, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR. 

Malawi

Malawi President appoints new Attorney General: Thabo Chakaka Nyirenda

Maneno Chimulala 1 Comment
Chakaka Nyirenda is new AG

BLANTYRE-(MaraviPost)—President Lazarus Chakwera has appointed Thabo Chakaka Nyirenda as the country’s new Attorney General.

This has been confirmed in a statement released by Secretary to the President and Cabinet, Zanga-zanga Chikhosi.

He replaces Chikosa Silungwe who was fired about a month ago.

Nyirenda was working with Reserve Bank of Malawi (RBM) as the central bank’s legal counsel.

While pursuing his studies at University of Sussex in England, he was elected in the institution’s student union as a National Union of Students (NUS) Black Student’s Delegate to represent the union on meetings and conferences involving black students in UK universities.

Nyirenda served in the Student Union of Chancellor College (now University of Malawi) as Director of Publication, Information and Publicity from the year 2003 to the year 2004 when he was pursuing his undergraduate studies.

He also served as Secretary General of Silver Strikers Football Club, a central bank sponsored club that participate in the country’s elite league.

Sports

Moyale FC, Silver Strikers fights over Khuda Muyawa

Malawi News Agency (MANA)

Battle lines have been drawn between Moyale Barracks and Silver Strikers football clubs over attacker Khuda Muyaba’s purported move to the bankers.

On Wednesday, the bankers General Secretary (GS), Thabo Chakaka Nyirenda revealed that the Muyaba has signed a three-year contract with the Reserve Bank of Malawi sponsored side.

But in an interview, GS for Moyale Barracks Football Clubs, Captain Isaac Banda expressed ignorance of Chakaka Nyirenda’s revelations that Muyaba has penned a three-year deal that ties him to the Airtel Top Eight champions till 2021.

“Unless they have the permission from higher Malawi Defence Force (MDF) authorities, that contract is not valid. As Moyale family, we don’t know anything about Muyaba joining Silver Strikers, we are also hearing such rumors from the media, “said Banda in brief.

But the bankers GS still insisted that Muyaba is a Silver Strikers player after penning their contract as a free agent.

He said what was remaining was to sort out some issues with the country’s football governing body, Football Association of Malawi (FAM) and Super League of Malawi (SULOM).

“The boy is in Lilongwe City with our team (Silver Strikers), we have remained with some transfer clearances from FAM and SULOM but he has signed the contract which will expire in 2021,” Nyirenda said.

Chakaka Nyirenda further went on to describe Muyaba as a striker who can play in any team on the domestic scene.

Muyaba who has been on a club hunting spree after he vowed never to play for the MDF sponsored side, was over the weekend spotted in Lilongwe with Silver Strikers FC club official watching a fundraising match between the bankers and Nyasa Big Bullets which the former won 2-0.

Khuda Muyaba, who is a soldier, came in the lime light when he single handedly knocked out Nyasa Big Bullets FC in the semifinals of Fisd Challenge Cup with his heroic two goals last season.

He was also Moyale’s most reliable striker in the 2017 TNM Super League Season scoring some important goals which helped him earn a place in the national team.