By Vincent Gunde
Political activist Bon Kalindo has thanked a Malawian citizen based in Italy Aubrey Ashatin for disclosing to him that the Malawi Government through the Ministry of Defense is procuring 2 planes to be used by the MDF in their operations.
Kalindo said according to his source, the two planes in question have been grounded for 15 years and the owner was approached by officials of the MDF who went to Italy accompanying the former Minister of Defence last year charged at 400,000 US Dollars meaning that two planes worth 800,000 US Dollars.
He said the clever Malawi delegation connived with the owner of the planes to write a quotation of 2 million us Dollars each and the quotation did not pass in the eyes of the Director of Procurement who refused to authorize his signature for the dubious quotation.
Speaking through an audio clip, Kalindo said the Procurement Director is under pressure to let the quotation pass or else he will be fired saying a total of 1,200,000 US Dollars was already paid as part payment for the two planes.
“I am not afraid, I am speaking as a Malawian who love the country and I cannot sit down and watch corruption been taking place without reporting to Malawians,” said Kalindo.
He said it is heartbreaking to see to it that the Judiciary in Malawi is favoring those with money but the poor are being taken as outcast in their own country observing that there are other people in Prison who have not gone for trial for their cases for 20 years.
Kalindo gave an example of Pika Manondo and MacDonald Kumwembe accomplices of the late cashgate convict Ralph Kasambala observing that Kasambala was granted bail by the court while his accomplices are still languishing in Prison for no bail till this day.
He said this has reminded him of the MCP government plans of arresting Dr. Patricia Kaliati saying the woman did all of what she could for President Chakwera to be where he is today but has forgotten that without her and the late Dr. Saulosi Chilima, Chakwera could not be President of the country today.
“Dr. Patricia Kaliati used to wake-up at 04;00 A.M to go for campaign trails addressing 10 whistle-stops per day for Chakwera to be President but today, she is on the list to be served with a Warrant of Arrest,” said Kalindo.
He has challenged politicians wishing to be President of the country that there are two places to measure their political temperatures in the country, Ndirande and Mzuzu claiming that Mzuzu people have taught Chakwera what Mzuzu is as he left the City yesterday for Lilongwe without sirens.
On a sad note, Kalindo said John Mhango who was shot on both legs during the Mzuzu demonstrations by a live bullet has died and his body was taken to Ekwendeni at Songwe for burial extending his heartfelt condolences for his death happening while exercising his right to demonstrate in line with the Republican Constitution.
