For a long time stories have been told that Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) used Mombera University as a cash cow.

Ironically all just went as rumours. Stories have been told of DPP diverting public funds for their personal use.

Malawi’s graft-busting body – the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) – has disclosed that it has instituted investigations into alleged plunder of public funds in the construction of Mombera University during the DPP administration.

The DPP government employed hundreds of ghost workers for the nonexistent tertiary education institution, draining billions of taxpayers’ money in the process.

That notwithstanding over the years, budgets have been passed not for purposes of implementing the establishment of the university, but for running the non-existing university.

Reports are even ripe that there was procurement of services, vehicles, and hiring of staff for the university.

Government wage bill purportedly showed that payment of salaries to lecturers and staff members included those of famous musicians in the country those from Sendera DPP band.

According to a whistleblower, expenditure in audit reports points to suppliers of various services such as gardening, landscaping, and cleaning services, purported procurement of vehicles, and services on the said vehicles. The amount runs into billions of kwacha.

Responding to the whistleblower, ACB says: “Reference is made to your letter dated 1 December 2020 and your whistleblower initiative on the above subject matter. In your letter, you complained that in the 2019/2020 fiscal year, a total of MK2.483 bilion was allegedly spent on Mombera University yet very little, almost negligent work
was done on the site.

“Further, it was alleged that MK1.0 billion was spent on the refurbrishment of Mzuzu University library and again very little was done on the site.

“The Bureau reviewed the complaint and made a referral action to the Auditor General to
institute an investigative audit into the matters to inform the Bureau’s next course of
action.”

The Bureau has now received investigative audit reports from the office of the Auditor
General and has completed an analysis of the findings and recommendations.

The bureau says based on the analysis, the Bureau will continue to investigate Mombera issue.

“Further, you are informed that the Bureau will proceed with further investigations into the issues surrounding Mombera University. We commend you for sharing the information and thank you for your cooperation, ” reads the ACB statement in part.

Meanwhile some Malawians have called ACB to quickly resolve this case by investigating and arresting all the concerned suspects.