….Court grants him bail
By Chancy Namadzunda:
Senior Resident Magistrate Wanangwa Nyirenda has granted bail to former Minister of Finance Joseph Mwanamvekha who was earlier nabbed today by the Anti Corruption Bureau.
In a statement released on Tuesday, the graft busting body said it had arrested Mwanamvekha in connection to a US$18,374,460 procurement deal involving the ministry of Homeland security.
According to the statement the Bureau recorded an allegation on 16 October 2020 that the Ministry of Homeland Security suspiciously procured Malawi Prison Services Uniforms and other equipment from One Guard FZE of United Arab Emirates without following proper procedures.
“Following the recording of the allegation the Bureau proceeded to conduct investigations which established that Mwanamvekha abused his office and neglected official duties by among other things approving disbursement of funds to Ministry of Homeland Security without verifying the urgency and importance of the procurement,” reads the statement.
The Bureau further says that Mwanamvekha will be charged with abuse of office and neglect of official duties.
Meanwhile Senior Resident Wanangwa Nyirenda has since granted bail to the former Finance Minister before the case comes back to court for plea taking.
Mwanamvekha is also answering another charge of abuse of office over his alleged submission of false figures to the International Monetary Fund alongside former Reserve Bank of Governor Dalitso Kabambe and other senior Reserve Bank Governor officials.
