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Salimu Bagus, former Minister of Local Government, and former UDF MP Elyn Maluwa are being investigated by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) for alleged transactions involving millions of Kwacha in the supply of items at the Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi (Escom).
Bagus confirmed the probe and complained why, among several other suppliers to Escom, “they have only picked me and Maluwa and this is a clear political witch hunt.”
According to insiders, a lot of politicians were suppliers for Escom and because of that Escom Board’s Procurement Sub-committee has been dissolved. It is said the sub-committee was disturbing set procurement procedures and systems.
“The committee has been dissolved because it was creating distortions and it has been replaced by an internal one being headed by the Chief Executive Officer,” said the source.
Escom Board Chairperson Agrina Mussa confirmed the procurement sub-committee has been dissolved but dismissed assertions that it has been dissolved because of the ACB probe.
“It is true that the Procurement Sub-committee which was headed by one of the board of directors has been dissolved but it’s not true that it is because of the ongoing ACB investigation.
“We had to dissolve it to comply with the Public Procurement Act which was put in place to, among other things, encourage transparency and accountability [in the public sector],” Mussa said.
She also dismissed allegations that the board was busy circumventing qualified suppliers and gave huge supply contracts to the politicians.
ACB spokesperson Egrita Ndala on Friday said in a written response that the bureau has been probing alleged corrupt transactions at Escom since last year.
Ndala, however, declined to disclose who they are investigating in particular, saying “it would be premature for me to disclose the names because investigations are still not complete.”
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