South Africa (News of The South) – Relief items meant for the victims of last year’s floods in some parts of the country are just piled up at the Malawi consulate offices in Johannesburg, South Africa due the failure by the foreign affairs office to transport the items to the beneficiaries.
The items which include blankets and clothes were meant to be transported into the country through one of the transporters who was given the task but only to change his mind complaining that the amount of money offered for the service was far too little.
An inside source who confided to this publication on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals revealed that the transporter who was chosen to carry the items is a relative to one of the officials at the consulate.
“Yes it is Mr. Chawuluka who is mandated to handle issues of that type at this office but he does that in liaison with Mrs. Gambatula and Bishop Singini, so it will be better if you can check with one of those, but honestly the procedure followed was fraudulent,
“The items were supposed to be in Malawi long ago and the tender to transport the goods was given to one of the relations to one of the authorizing officials, and since the amount charged was hefty, the foreign affairs office in Malawi declined to accept the deal,” the source said.
Despite the Consulate General’s office complaining that there were no funds to transport the relief items, it is still surprising to find almost all the officials in the office making trips to neighboring countries like Lesotho and pocket R8000 (Mk6 million) each in allowances.
Efforts to talk to the officials at the consulate General’s office in Johannesburg proved futile as they were reported to have travelled outside the country.
One of the officials at the external affairs ministry in the capital city, Lilongwe accepted knowledge of the consignment of relief items piled in Johannesburg but was quick to say that the officials in Johannesburg are better placed to give information on that.
A few day ago teachers in some areas affected by floods emanating from effects of Cyclone Idai complained that officials distributing relief items were sidelining them just because they were government employees and yet they also lost their property and farm produce.
During a workshop after swearing in some cabinet ministers in Mangochi a few weeks ago the minister responsible for drought and relief management, Everton Chimlirenji warned anyone deliberately frustrating government efforts or involved in corrupt practices that government will not hesitate to fire such officials.
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