JB faces PAC to probe over presidential jet sale
The Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee (PAC) says it is set to investigate former President Joyce Banda over the controversial sale of the presidential during her tenure of office.
In May 2012, JB – as she is fondly referred to by her followers – sold off a 14-passenger presidential aircraft to a Virgin Islands company, Bohnox Enterprise Limited.
The aircraft was sold for US$15 million and the deal was finalized barely a month Banda succeeded her predecessor, late President Bingu wa Mutharika, who died in office in April, 2012.
Nyasa Times has confirmed that PAC has written the Treasury, requesting for documentation regarding the sale of the jet
In the letter dated August 6, 2021, PAC chairperson Shadreck Namalomba his committee intends to conduct an inquiry into processes, which were followed to dispose of the jet and how the proceeds of the sale were handled.
However, Namalomba did not pick our calls this morning when we sought further clarification on the matter.
Last year, the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) indicated that its investigation into the matter had failed to yield the much-needed results.
To justify her controversial decision, Banda said she decided to sell the jet Mutharika bought for $22m due to the cost of running it.
She said the proceeds would go towards averting hunger and drug crisis in public health facilities.
The then Ministry of Finance spokesperson, Nations Msowoya, said it was a collective government decision that the money realised from the sale of the jet would be used to purchase maize locally and some for legume production.
At the time, food experts had indicated that 10 percent of the country’s then 13 million citizens faced food shortage.
However, questions have remained unanswered on how the two-year-old government of Amayi used proceeds from the sale of the aircraft.
Before joining forces for the June 2020 Fresh Presidential Elections, President Dr. Lazarus Chakwera vowed that his government would go after the people who squandered the money realized from the sale of the jet.
Some quarters believe Banda partnered with the Malawi Congress Party (MCP) to escape justice in the matter.
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Maybe we should not focus on the past money which was allegedly looted, which will take billions to investigate, and may not even be able to recover. Let us focus on making sure the current regime is not doing the same thing as the previous regimes did, and let our President focus on income generation instead.
We first need to improve the current economy before and focus on the present and immediate future rather than the past.
JB was just another useless president. Cashgate was in her time. The jet was sold and now the president is disturbing us on the roads. We did not see the money being put to good use. It like selling deceased estate ndalama nkumwera mowa. She must explain where the money went.
Waste of time, so u think u are competent thsn those who did investigation? The problem is that some people concluded thst JB stole the money so if this investigatin find nothing, some will still not be happy. O they want is for the report to say JB stole the money. Shupit.
ACB ndi marita chizumz ali duuuu…where is the case of mphwiyo and this madam cashgate? pano we dont an investigation kutionongera misonkho yathu when the plain truth is as simple as abc…ndege inabedwa chifukwa cha kaduka.
Palibe chifukwa chopangidwa investigate apa. Investigation inamangidwa kale kungochidwetsa zinthu basi. Poti ali mu Tonse aliyense ndi wakuba party.
There is a need for the full investigative audit how the proceeds of the jets were handled by the then regime and further there is a need to investigate the proceeds from the privatisation of the public companies were handled and how the proceeds were used by the erstwhile regimes. Otherwise they have made the whole nation to suffer.
We need our jet back. Now.
Big up PAC we are tired of selective justice
After that you must also probe into maize-gate scandal involving joyisi Banda as well, then you go further to ask chaponda so on and so forth
I do not see the former president facing justice because it seems like when it comes to our leaders they are always untouchable, a decade had gone on Muluzi trial and he is a free man, Cash gate scandal did not impact JB much who was the leader by then, I don’t know how much APM is involved or not in Cement scandal, now JB is part of Tonse Alliance too. Even if Chakwera wants to still from us he will do it without fear because he knows presidents are untouchable in our state.
I support you in totality.
JB has a lot to ans in a court of law.
For sure,she paired Chakwera to be safe from being percuted.
Cash gate,Ndege gate,she is in.
Speaking without fear or favour.
His son Roy too,must be questioned how he accumulated such worth within 24 months,her mama was a president…
Ukhungu at its best.
Wanthu wakwiba nkhuku,are jailed but those stealing huge money are free…ridiculous.
JB must be questioned speaking without fear.
Regards,
Mzakwacha Nixon
KwaZulu NaTaL.
+27724922299