The Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs has released the remaining two of six buses that were obtained fraudulently in what is known as Cashgate.
The buses have gone to Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (Luanar) and Malawi University of Science and Technology (Must).
Four of the buses were already given to Malawi Defence Force (MDF), Malawi Police Service (MPS), Malawi Prison Services and Kamuzu International Airport (KIA).
Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Samuel Tembenu, said the buses have been donated as part of giving the money back to the public, and have been distributed based on the needs of the applicants.
“The criterion was solely based on the need. We had so many applications coming to the ministry and others to the head of state; and when all applications were considered, he advised me to distribute them to such public institutions,” Tembenu said
He further said the ministry is committed to concluding all the Cashgate cases and so far over 15 cases have been concluded.
Vice Chancellor for Must, Address Malata, said the buses will go a long way in alleviating the mobility challenges that the university’s staff and students have been facing.
“Our staff and students stay as far as Thyolo. So we need them to travel to campus every day but we have few buses. Also our university is focusing on science, innovation and industrial work and this bus will help us a lot,” she said
Vice Chancellor for Luanar, George Kanyama Phiri, described the donation as timely saying the university which has about 9,000 students was using a lorry which was not suitable for the college.
The six buses, worth K560 million, were used as evidence in court for Leonard Kalonga’s fraud case and were being kept at National Police Headquarters at area 30 in Lilongwe since 2013.
A vibrant writer who gives a great insight on hot topics and issues