Youth and Sports Minister, Richard Chimwendo Banda is demanding a whopping K300 million from Mr. Henry Bakuwa, former Director of Finance for the Malawi Gaming Board for alleging that he pocketed K4 million to push for the passing of a bill for the institution in parliament.
This is in reference to the Gaming and Lotteries Bill which saw the merging of the Malawi Gaming Board and National Lotteries Board to create the Malawi Gaming and Lotteries Authority-MAGLA.
A leaked memo purportedly from Bakuwa further claims that in total the Members of Parliament pocketed over K43 million in total to vote for the MALGA Bill.
Chimwendo Banda, who is a lawmaker for Dowa East and Leader of the House in Parliament, argues he is injured by the allegation as it insinuates he abused his public office, among others.
But through his lawyers, Wilkinson, Chimwendo Banda is now demanding the K300 million as compensation for the words he describes as defamatory in nature.
He also wants Bakuwa to retract his statement and offer a public apology in 24 hours; saying he will commence legal proceedings if he fails to.
Meanwhile, a statement from the Malawi Gaming Board confirms that the leaked memo in circulation is an extract of Bakuwa’s representations before the Auditor General following allegations of fraud at the institution.
But it assures Malawians “that there is nothing untoward in the allegations contained in the internal memo.”
Earlier, Chimwendo Banda wrote on his Facebook page that he did not receive any money or had knowledge of any transactions in question.
