Government to investigate KIA liftgate
The government has said it will dig deeper into reports that Malawi paid $48,000 (about K36 million) to a bogus Kenyan firm to install a new lift in the control tower at Kamuzu International Airport.
Homeland Security Minister Richard Chimwendo Banda was reacting to concerns by Chitipa South Member of Parliament Werani Chilenga on why there was silence on the matter.
Making a contribution to a Transport Committee of Parliament report, Chilenga said, in 2014 and 2015, Parliament allocated resources towards the purchase of a lift.
“I would like Parliament to set up a special committee to look into the matter,” Chilenga said.
Reacting to Chilenga’s concern, Chimwendo Banda, who is Leader of the House, said the matter was critical and that the government would dig deeper the issue.
Former Justice minister Samuel Tembenu admitted in Parliament, in February 2017, that a contract was signed in 2011 for the supply and installation of a lift in the control tower after the old one malfunctioned.
He said the contract was between the Department of Civil Aviation and a Kenyan company but the information he had did not indicate that the company had local directors.
