Africa-Press – Malawi. The country’s civil rights group, Centre for Democracy and Economic Development Initiatives (CDEDI) on Monday, December 4, 2023, demanded Salima Sugar Company Limited (SSCL) Executive Chairperson Wester Kosamu to make public the scope of audit work justifying the MK623 million claim by Audit Consult.
CDEDI Executive Director Sylvester Namiwa told the news conference in the capital Lilongwe that his grouping wants the Sugar company to also disclose all other related reimbursements as well as any relevant documentary evidence that validates the amount being claimed.
The grouping calls came barely a week after the High Court in Blantyre froze all Salima Sugar bank accounts until the company settled the MK623 million it owes to the audit firm which conducted a forensic audit.
“It is given this that we urge Attorney General Thabo Chakaka-Nyirenda to vacate the injunction which has crippled SSCL’s operations. Malawians may wish to know that the initial contract for the audit signed in June 2023 was pegged at MK160 million, and was duly paid but by the time the draft audit report was released the cost of producing the audit had ballooned to MK250 million.
“In the same vein, Cdedi demands an explanation from SSCL former executive chairperson Shirieesh Betgri on why he accepted liability for an audit that was commissioned by the government in the exercise of its oversight role,” said Namiwa.
Namiwa notes that current developments at SSCL smack more of politics than institutional governance, which, if not checked, will have far-reaching consequences on the survival of the company. CDEDI therefore believes the developments will scare away both existing and potential investors.
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