Malondera refuses to back down over K24bn claim

Lilongwe Nyanja MP Baba Steven Malondera is refusing to back down from his K24 billion claim over the government’s repatriation of Malawians fleeing xenophobic attacks in South Africa, saying he has submitted evidence to Parliament to support remarks he made at a political rally in Malembo. Malondera says the evidence includes documents from Matours Bus Service and Onjezani Kenani, who has been helping repatriate Malawians from South Africa through fundraising. He says the documents include a Matours quotation and proof of payment of R165,000, which he says Kenani paid to transport seven Malawians from South Africa to Malawi. According to Malondera, the payment provides a basis for comparing the cost of repatriation with figures presented to Parliament by government. He says his K24 billion claim is also based on a report presented to Parliament indicating that government budgeted K24 billion to repatriate 15,000 Malawians, which he says translates to about K1.6 million per person. However, Deputy Leader of the House Shadric Namalomba rejects the evidence, saying the documents do not prove Malondera’s allegation that K1.1 million per person was misappropriated. Namalomba says government budgeted K24 billion for the exercise but, as of Tuesday, had spent K9 billion while transporting about 42,000 people, translating to roughly K214,000 per person. He has challenged Malondera, who is also Chairperson of the Public Accounts Committee, to summon government officials before his committee and establish the actual expenditure instead of making accusations at political rallies. But Malondera maintains that his position as committee chairperson should not prevent him from speaking on issues affecting Malawians, saying he made the remarks in Malembo as an MP and representative of his constituents. “Facts remain facts,” Malondera says, insisting that the issue is not about his position but about ensuring that leaders are held accountable for public funds. The Speaker is now expected to consider the evidence submitted by Malondera as Parliament continues to grapple with the dispute over the actual cost of bringing Malawians home from South Africa.