ACB summons its former boss Matemba over allegation he pocketed $10,000 to influence Sattar's contract

Malawi: Former ACB Director Reyneck Matemba has been summoned on allegations that he received US$10,000 to influence the awarding of a contract to one of British businessman Zuneth Sattar's companies.

The Bureau has also arrested former Board Chair for Public Procurement and Asset Disposal-PPDA John Suzi Banda, who is accused of receiving K3 million for the same business deal.

According to an ACB statement, the two are accused of accepting kickbacks in order to influence the awarding of a contract to Xaviar Limited to supply food rations to the Malawi Police Service.

Reads the ACB statement in part: "The investigations conducted by the bureau established that Mr. Reyneck Matemba corruptly received $10,000 (about K10.2 million) as an advantage for the vetting process of the food rations contract. Mr. John Suzi-Banda received K3 million from Mr. Zuneth Sattar’s agent Zun Cheena to influence Mr. John Suzi-Banda to grant a no objection for the Malawi Police Service to award the contract to Xaviar Limited."

According to the ACB, the former PPDA Chair received the kickback in exchange for the authority to grant the Police Service a "no object" in the contract in which Xaviar Limited was to supply 350,000 food ration packs valued at USD 7, 785, 000.

Matemba, who is now the Secretary for Lands, was summoned to the ACB offices in Lilongwe, while Suzi Banda was taken to the Blantyre office for questioning.

The two are among those named as having benefited from Sattar's alleged corrupt dealings.

According to ACB spokesperson Egrita Ndala, Matemba will face a charge of corruptly using official powers in violation of section 25, subsection 1 of the Corrupt Practices Act, while Suzi Banda will face charges of obtaining an advantage and failing to declare an interest.

Both are expected to appear in court soon.