President Lazarus Chakwera has fired Minister of Labour Ken Kandodo who was named in the recently released K6.2 billion Covid-19 audit report for mismanagement.

According to Chakwera, despite that the Minister has returned the money, the usage of the money means that the funds were not used for their intended purpose.

“As for the Minister of Labour, who was named by the audit report as having spent Covid funds amounting to K613, 000 on his allowances for a foreign trip, I have dropped him from my Cabinet accordingly.

“I cannot have in my Cabinet any individuals who either spend money budgeted for one thing on something else or do not ask tough questions to ensure that the money they are spending on something was budgeted for that purpose,” said Chakwera.

The Malawi leader, who addressed the nation on Sunday night, has also directed the interdiction without pay public officers who mismanaged the Covid funds.

“I have directed the Secretary to the President and Cabinet, Mr. Zanga-zanga Chikhosi, to interdict without pay those public officers on whose direct watch the financial mismanagement occurred.

“I have also directed him to ensure that those officers are referred to the relevant Service Commissions to either clear their names or be sanctioned and disciplined,” said Chakwera.

He vowed that there are no sacred cows in the fight against any corrupt dealing behind Covid-19 funds and that there will be more arrests to all the culprits.

The President also said Minister of Justice should engage the Chief Justice on the support the Judiciary needs to expedite the cases related to this K6.2 billion, as well as all open and past cases related to the theft of public resources.

In a statement released yesterday on Sunday, the Police have confirmed the arrest of 14 individuals which include Prince Mtelela, Administration Officer in the Office of President and Cabinet; Pudenciana Makalamba, Commissioner, Department of Immigration and Citizenship Services; Mzati Mkolokosa, former Director of Information and Martin Mainja of Pest Chem 1B.

According to National Police Spokesperson James Kadadzera, ten more have been arrested from the district councils of Blantyre, Thyolo, Zomba, Machinga, Ntcheu, Dedza and Salima.

He added that police detectives are on the ground and more arrests are imminent, and suspects will be charged with theft by public servant, among other charges.