By Burnett Munthali
Lilongwe Nyanja Member of Parliament Baba Steven Malondera has refused to withdraw claims that the government spent K24 billion on the repatriation of Malawians fleeing xenophobic attacks in South Africa, insisting that he has credible evidence to support his assertions.
Malondera said he has formally submitted the evidence to Parliament to substantiate remarks he made during a political rally at Malembo, where he alleged that the government spent K24 billion on the repatriation exercise.
His position comes amid a growing dispute with the government, which has dismissed the claim as false and maintained that the repatriation operation cost K9 billion.
The lawmaker has maintained that the documents he submitted will demonstrate the basis of his statement and justify the figures he presented to the public.
The conflicting claims have sparked public debate over the actual cost of the repatriation programme, with calls for greater transparency and accountability regarding the expenditure of public funds.
The government has repeatedly defended its position, insisting that all funds used during the repatriation exercise were properly accounted for and that reports suggesting a K24 billion expenditure are inaccurate.
The matter is expected to attract further parliamentary scrutiny as legislators examine the evidence presented and seek clarity on the actual cost of bringing home Malawians who fled xenophobic violence in South Africa.
