Centre for Democracy and Economic Development Initiative (CDEDI) has given President Lazarus Chakwera a 30-days ultimatum to institute an independent committee to investigate issues surrounding Bill number 22 of 2021, a loan authorisation which was smuggled to Parliament.

The bill which is meant for government to borrow K93 billion for construction of houses for the country’s security agents, found its way onto the order paper in the National Assembly mysteriously without the knowledge of Parliament’s Business Committee, Cabinet Committee on Legal Affairs, The Attorney General (AG) and Minister of Justice.

In a statement issued by CDEDI on August 5, and signed by its Executive Director, Silvester Namiwa, the organisation has also given Speaker of National Assembly, Catherine Gotani Hara and Clerk of Parliament, Fiona Kalemba, 48 hours to exonerate themselves by speaking out on the matter.

Reads part of the statement: “All the critical questions surrounding the mysterious bill can ably be handled by Madam Kalemba. Her silence and that of her own boss the Hon. Gotani Hara is creating an impression that the two suspects that have been arrested in connection with the matter, did the job single-handedly, without the help of any official from parliament.

“This can only be possible in the ‘Mission Impossible’ kind of movies! Isn’t this an insult on the intelligence of Malawians?”

CDEDI has further warned that any attempt to conceal the matter will not only dent the image of the Tonse Alliance Partners, but result into a catastrophe, as citizens will be forced to act.

Following the mysterious push of the bill, Chakwera has fired his adviser on special duties, Pastor Martin Thom who was also arrested by police together with Ministry of Finance Debt and Aid Management Director, Nations Msowoya.