CDEDI says Malawians have a right to know the truth

The Centre for Democracy and Development Initiatives (CDEDI) says it strongly believes that Malawians have a right to know what really transpired during the 2-hours meeting of Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on the infamous East Bridge Company of Romania fertilizer deal.

The Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee (PAC) informed Malawians that it will start investigating allegations pertaining a heated debate of the East Bridge company of Romania to procure fertilizer for Malawi.

Malawians welcomed this development that it will reveal the truth of what really happened as there have been a heated debate going on in various social media platforms that Romania import fertilizer and cannot procure fertilizer for Malawi.

Some clever people in Malawi had to google to find out if the East Bridge company of Romania exists only to establish allegations that some members of the company are Malawians residing in Area 43 and Area 47 in Lilongwe.

To make the allegations worse, cashgate convict who was the Budget Director during the reign of the Peoples Party (PP) led government of Madam Dr. Joyce Banda was trusted to work with President Dr. Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera as one of his economic advisors run away with MK5 billion and is nowhere to be seen in Malawi.

In the meeting by the Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee (PAC) which was held in the Parliament Building in Lilongwe on 12th September, 2023 the committee’s Chairperson Hon. Mark Botoman announced to the nation that his committee has called off the much-awaited public inquiry into the infamous East Bridge fertilizer deal.

Malawians have received the news with many questions than answers sparking a heated debate that has culminated into serious allegations of money exchanging hands while others are of the view that corrupt politicians cannot investigate their fellows.

The Centre for Democracy and Development Initiatives (CDEDI) has written a letter to the Clerk of Parliament Madam Fiona Kalemba dated 14th September, 2023 signed by its Executive Director Sylvester Namiwa requesting her to provide minutes and audio recordings for the meeting which was held on 12th September, 2023 giving her 7 days to do the needful.

In the letter, the CDEDI says Members of Parliament (MPs) are representatives of the people on one hand, saying both the committee and plenary meetings of Parliament are public meetings on the other hand for Malawians to know the truth.

“By making public the requested information, your office will not only demonstrate high levels of transparency and accountability but such a gesture will put to rest the debate that has dominated the public discourse.