I commend the Judge and the councel for the prosecution in a case involving the former Education minister of Education Sam Mpasu. The judge for a well reasoned judgement and the prosecution councel for presenting a plausible and persuassive case leading to the conviction last week of the said person. However, I have problems with the delay with which such a high profile and important case has been handled. The offences were committed in 1994 when the convict was serving as a Minister of Education in theUDF-government. In the first count the court concluded that the prisoner abused his office by concluding an arrangement with Fieldyork international without authority and in disregard of procurement procedures. On the second count it was established that the prisoner arbitrarily directed his Principal Secretary to sign and send a fax to the sameFieldyork. On the third count the court concluded that Mr. Mpasu directed Mr. Safuli (former secretary for education) to send a letter of intent to Fieldyork. Mr Mpasu benefitted from the fieldyork transactions in 14 years ago and facts to that effect immediately became public knowledge.
His suspension was seen as superficial as Mpasu continued to enjoy executive previleges under Bakili Muluzi yet the free primary school suffered as the scheme lacked materials. The ministry was subsequently rocked by numerous corruption scandals including the K187m involvingCassim Chilumpha and Jeff wa Jeffrey. The catalogue of scandals that ensued occured because Mpasu was not punished at the time. Did the prosecution fail to carry out their job? Was Mpasu protected by the UDF government or indeed Mr Muluzi who is alleged to have been complicit to the case? Did Mpasu act alone or as the judge concluded he merely is a sacrificial lamb?
Contrast the handling of Mpasu case with that of Matilda Katopola(the clerk of parliament) who also fraughted procurement procedures by awarding contracts to her own firm(Monik’s Enterprise).Public servants must always put the interest of the public first before their own. Selfishness is a serious disease in Malawi which has made many Malawians in villages suffer because one individual wants everything for themselves. FridayJumbe built sunrise hotel from the alleged proceeds from sale of Maize when he worked as Excutive Director of Admarc. Malawians starved yet as I write, Jumbe is a free man.
One thing for sure is that the conviction of Mpasu will act as a deterent to those that might want to be involved in corrupt practices. Thats comforting for me,but as they say, Justice delayed is justice denied.
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