Moses Kunkuyu, spokesperson for the Malawi government, has affirmed that Platform For Investigative Journalism (PIJ) journalist Gregory Gondwe is free to return to Malawi, dismissing allegations that the Malawi Defence Force is pursuing him. Kunkuyu made this statement during a press briefing at the Ministry of Information Headquarters in Lilongwe, expressing his readiness to personally welcome Gondwe at the airport should he choose to return.
Gondwe fled the country after his PIJ website published a story exposing ongoing dealings between the government and Sattar and his companies. Sattar, a UK citizen of Malawian descent, has been embroiled in a corruption scandal with government officials. Although Sattar’s companies were blacklisted, Kunkuyu clarified that the government is legally obligated to pay for goods already supplied or manufactured in accordance with Section 46 of the Public Procurement and Disposal of Assets (PPDA) Act.
Despite terminating all contracts with Zuneth Sattar’s businesses, Kunkuyu disclosed that the government initiated payment of $19 million after audits and investigations by the Auditor General confirmed delivery and production of some goods.
Said Kunkuyu: ” The payment is yet to be externalised by the Reserve Bank of Malawi.
However, there has been misinformation and media sensationalism to the effect that the government is “still in bed with Sattar” and making payments to Sattar companies despite termination of the contracts regardless of the above facts.”
