‘Muluzi took US$12m in donor money’

BLANTYRE – A senior official from Malawi’s former ruling party told parliament that ex-president Bakili Muluzi channelled US$12 million of funds into his personal account, a daily said yesterday.

“These are donations which were partly used in elections last year,” George Mtafu, leader of the United Democratic Front (UDF) in parliament, was quoted by the Nation newspaper as telling parliament on Tuesday. Muluzi, who was head of state in the poor southern African country from 1994 to May of last year, is to undergo questioning next Monday in connection with the probe, said the director of the Anti-Corruption Bureau, Gustave Kaliwo.Investigators are looking into allegations that Muluzi, who has business interests in real estate, media, transport and retail sales, pocketed nearly 1,4 billion kwachas (US$12 million) between April 1999 and November 2004.Mtafu, however, said: “Under the laws of Malawi, it is not an offence to receive donations …it is only when public money has been stolen when it is an offence.”Mtafu, a close aide to the retired president, was reacting after the Anti-Corruption Bureau said it was investigating Muluzi for alleged corruption involving millions of dollars received from Taiwan, Libya, Morocco and other donors.- Nampa-AFPMuluzi, who was head of state in the poor southern African country from 1994 to May of last year, is to undergo questioning next Monday in connection with the probe, said the director of the Anti-Corruption Bureau, Gustave Kaliwo.Investigators are looking into allegations that Muluzi, who has business interests in real estate, media, transport and retail sales, pocketed nearly 1,4 billion kwachas (US$12 million) between April 1999 and November 2004.Mtafu, however, said: “Under the laws of Malawi, it is not an offence to receive donations …it is only when public money has been stolen when it is an offence.”Mtafu, a close aide to the retired president, was reacting after the Anti-Corruption Bureau said it was investigating Muluzi for alleged corruption involving millions of dollars received from Taiwan, Libya, Morocco and other donors.- Nampa-AFP