ACB allegedly nabs, Lands Minister, Kenzie Msukwa and businessman, Ashok Nair, in connection with the alleged fraudulent allocation of plots to Zuneth Sattar.
In reports yet to be officially confirmed by the Anti – Corruption Bureau, ACB, the graft busting body has arrested Minister of Lands, Kezzie Msukwa, and a Malawian businessman of Indian origin, Ashok Nair.
It is understood that the duo has been picked on suspicions of being involved in the fraudulent allocation of plots to, Zuneth Sattar. Nair is believed to be Sattar’s business associate.
Last week ACB issued a notice stopping relevant authorities from authorizing any dealings related to 86 prime pieces of land, spread all over Lilongwe, which are believed to be some of the plots Sattar owns and is suspected to have obtained fraudulently.
Sattar is arguably believed to be Malawi’s own version of the “Guptas”, in reference to the infamous Gupta brothers of South Africa who compromised scores of politically connected individuals in South Africa including, former President, Jacob Zuma, to win myriads of government business contracts and enjoy numerous government favors, in the infamous “state capture scandal”.
The scandal is believed to be one of the causes of Zuma’s downfall, resulting in him being booted out of power ahead of the expiry of his final term in office.
In Malawi, Zuneth Sattar is suspected of having done the same with at least three different governments including Joyce Banda, Peter Mutharika, and the current regime of Lazarus Chakwera.
The United Kingdom’s National Crime Agency is said to have opened a docket on him in connection to allegations of fraud, corruption, and money laundering in which scores of influential Malawians including, key people in the said governments are implicated.
Sattar holds duo Malawian and British citizenship. He owns scores of property and businesses in both countries.
He was arrested and released on bail in the UK. The Malawian arrests are the first in connection with Sattar cases.
The ACB has confirmed the arrests and has added that investigations are undergoing to bring to book scores of politically exposed people that have been fingered in the docket that the UK’s National Crime Agency has on Zuneth Sattar, assuring the public to expect more arrests in relation to Sattar alleged illegal dealings
