On Monday, hearing into the shooting of Malawi’s former budget director in the ministry of finance Paul Mphwiyo continued in court with one of the witnesses citing a conflicting role that Mphwiyo had on his position before the shooting.
In testifying before the court, former minister of finance in the United Democratic Front (UDF) government, Friday Jumbe stated different role as Mphwiyo himself did on how government payments are authorized, saying a budget director has no mandate to make payments.
Jumbe was paraded by one of the accused person in the shooting of former budget director in the ministry of finance Paul Mphwiyo, McDonald Kumwembe together with former Peoples Party official Hophmally Makande to testify as he enters his defence.
In the court, Jumbe said that under public finance management, the budget director has no power to issue or make payments.
“It is not possible because a budget director works under the Secretary to Treasury. If the holder of that office issues payments, then procedures are being flouted,” testified Jumbe.
Asked by Kasambara if it was normal for Mphwiyo to make such payments, Jumbe vehemently said no.
Kasambara then produced Mphwiyo’s statement which has his job descriptions among them; planning, extension, monitoring and provide advice to the Secretary to the Treasury on budget matters.
“From that do you see any indication that Mphwiyo got legal powers to make payments?” asked Kasambala
Jumbe replied “no,”
Jumbe also refuted assertions that during his tenure as finance minister there any situation where a Budget Director could be used by a president or minister to authorize payments?
On Mphwiyo’s statements which claimed that it was Kasambara who was the then Attorney General who was pressurizing him to authorize such payments, the former minister of justice produced two letters he wrote the Secretary to the Treasury and copied to the Accountants General to make payments to some companies which had successfully sued government for breach of contract.
One was from Terrastone and Deco Construction joint ventures which won the contract to construct the parliament building before Malawi severed ties with Taiwan and opted for China.
Another one was with Grey Waterways which payment was done through Banda and Banda Company.
“What was those letters from and to?” Kasambara asked Jumbe.
He replied: “From the Attorney General to secretary to the treasury and copied to the accountant’s general.”
He further asked: “Do you see anywhere addressed to the budget director?”
Jumbe again said, no.
Asked on whether he could be a witness of truth on the role of a budget director, Jumbe refused, saying he could not bear such witness.
The case resumes today, Tuesday December 5, 2016.
Mphwiyo!mphwiyo!mphwiyo!ka mbava aka,onsewa akudziwana ankaba nkumagawana!
Go ahead! Kwinaku tikuiwala basiii inu mkumalemerabe
asatuluke akhale konko
kod mwati mlanduwu udzatha aaaaah mose mudayambira, ngat muwadziwa achiwembuwo ,then what r u wetn for?mose mudayambira kuwafusa mafuso muja?time cosuming arrest them basi,End go for cashgate chapter now!!!!not phwiyo phwiyo each end evry year
Mungoononga dollar zathu, nchifukwa chiyani nkhaniyi siikutha?
Kakakondwa kwambiri(kambuzi)amalonda ali kuseli kwa mwala…..mudakondwa kwambiri anapamnyero inu…..watsala magogo Joyce….nonse mutha muona!!kkkkkkkk…..kukomaaa
woyenda ndi kankhwangwa……kankhwangwa komweko kadzamudula mapwala kkkkkkkkk
Bravo Kasambara
chilungamo patsogolo kwinaku boma nalo lukuluza makwacha potengera khamiyi ku khothi
Following!
Case resumes today 5 december 2016????
azifunsa mafuso akewo koma opereka judgement ndi wina mpamene apusire kasambalayo.walowa walowa basi he belongs there
that’s why Kasambala said he needed no any lawyer but himself.
koma guys Kasambala yu akuthethetsa nawo mafunso
ndekumasekelera zimezo mawa azawombera abale anu
I have always said not to believe “confessions” and statements coerced from accused until you hear from the other side! This is interesting. This will bare to the culprits.