By Alefa Mwate
A Blantyre based business man Faizal Latif trading as Mapeto has been summoned by the Anti- Corruption Bureau (ACB) for questioning over his role in the MK300 million cheque made to Mapeto David Whitehead and Sons (MDWS) as payment for immediate past ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) cloth.
In May this year, former governing DPP pressurized the then Malawi Energy Regulatory Authority (MERA) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Collins Magalasi to pay for a DPP cloth meant to be used during its Fresh Presidential Elections (FPE) campaign.
However, Mapeto did not deliver the cloth as agreed but instead Faizal Latif gave MK200 million cash to the party.
Magalasi transpired during a caution statement the embattled MERA boss had with both the ACB and the Police.
All eyes are now on the Malawi Police Service especially the Inspector General (IG) George Kainja on whether he is going to act on Faizal Latif after the ACB failed to take him to task on several occasions.
In August 2019 Mapeto “escaped unhurt” from a search warrant the tax collecting body sought from the Resident Magistrate Court in Blantyre over an MK 8 billion kwacha tax invasion scam.
The transaction according to the search warrant dated August 13 was done at NBS bank.
During the DPP regime Mapeto was dealing directly with former Chief Secretary Llyod Muhara who was remote controlling the then MRA Commissioner General Thom Malata.
Faizal Latif uses his firm known as Honkong Polychem Company in China as a conduit to evade tax and externalize foreign currency.
Mapeto under declares almost everything he imports from we have a Honkong Polychem number invoice HKPC 4700/2013 just as an example.
Due to the acute cotton lint scarcity in the Malawi, Lafit is stealing from Malawians through his abuse of Industrial rebate by importing grey cloth he uses at Mapeto DWS with fully knowledge of MRA Head of investigation Steve Kajombo.
Efforts to get Latif side of story proved futile as his mobile number was not available.
Malawians are waiting with a baited breath to see whether this time around ACB will gather enough courage to pounce of the untouchable that is Faizal Latif who owns Mapeto wholesalers, Mapeto Tyres and Mapeto David Whitehead and Sons
