..I dont deal or supply fuel or fertiliser
..Zamba’s MoU fake, so too expressions of interest
..OPC risks lawsuit- impersonation, reputational damage
More than cashgate, more than any criminal activity Malawi Government has ever experienced. The genuine Office of His Highness Sheikh Ahmed Al Qassimi has totally rejected the contracts, expression of interest or any insinuation that they have business interest with anybody in Malawi.
We have part of the recorded telephone interview on our website for Malawians to hear for themselves what the Office of the Sheikh Ahmed Al Qassimi official position is. The same name and office appear on documents forged as expression of interest to National Oil Company of Malawi (NOCMA) and the Smallholder Farmers Fertilizer Revolving Fund of Malawi (SFFRFM).
“What is kwacha? What are you talking about. No no no, we don’t have business in Malawi, we operate in Dubai and partly in China. We have no agreement with anyone in Africa,” the Office’s Public Relations and Media Manager Ali Ahmed Alhamed said Thursday in Dubai, in the presence of the Sheikh and his management team.
It is now up to Secretary to the President and Cabinet Colleen Zamba to tell Malawians who signed the MoU she penned with a fake H.H. Sheikh Ahmed Al Qassimi as her actions, the fake multi trillion-kwacha contracts could see Malawi being sued for “reputational damage” as the Dubai cleric is angry with “abuse of his name.”
The office has promised to pursue “impersonators” and anyone who is involved in the “scam” including the purported QLV Digital FX which is set to supply 250,000 metric tons of fuel and 600,000 metric tons of fuel.
The fuel deal is worth K200 billion- with 50% paid in advance in Malawi kwacha while the fertiliser is worth K1 trillion, again with payment to the same QLV Digital FX which has no links or contracts with the genuine Sheikh Ahmed Al Qassimi. These are both fake contracts.
The Investigator Magazine has always argued that a “fake sheikh” was being used on the documents and the two telephone interviews conducted by our former Editor based in England proves our assertions that the deals in Malawi are bogus.
The office of the Sheikh asked The Investigator Magazine to furnish them with the supposed contracts and documents which emanate from a MoU Zamba brought and claims was signed with the Office of the Sheikh.
Surprisingly, the Anti-Corruption Bureau and public watchdog agencies are yet to start investigations in what could be the largest attempt to defraud Malawi government since 1994.
Here is full transcript and part of the audio of our telephone interview with the Office:
Wednesday, 2 October 2024
The Investigator Magazine (TIM): Hallo, I am a journalist calling on behalf of The Investigator Magazine. It focuses on accountability and open Government in Malawi. I am with a legal counsel who will certify the call.
Office of the Sheikh (OoS): Thank you, I am in the office with the management team of the Office of Sheikh Ahmed Al Qassimi. We are all listening. What is it you want.
TIM: I sent you emails, and I have been looking forward to your response?
OoS: But you are selling or looking for fuel and fertiliser, I told you we don’t deal with those!
TIM: No, there are documents and contracts in Malawi showing that you will supply fuel and fertiliser in Malawi and be paid in Malawi Kwacha.
OoS: What is kwacha, we dont have contracts in Malawi, i thought you want us to buy fuel or fertiliser from you. This office does not have business in Africa?
TIM: But there are documents and contracts stating that the Office signed am agreement with Malawi Government. Are you sure you dont deal with anyone from Malawi? Are you sure you dont have QLV Digital FX as your business extension to supply Malawi fuel and fertiliser?
OoS: Which documents, please send them over, We operate in Dubai only and we only operate partly in China we have no business in Africa.
TIM: So you dont have an office President Professor Marcini Lapa you delegated to open QLV Digital FX in Malawi?
OoS: You are talking to the whole management team of Office; we have no President and dont have business in Malawi or Africa. Send me the documents, may be we can understand your query.
The conversation ends with sending of documents. They follow up with an email.
Thursday 4th October 2024:
The Investigator Magazine (TIM): I emailed you the documents and everything that says you have contracts in Malawi to supply fertiliser and fuel. Are you sure you dont have business in Malawi?
OoS: I dont think we have time to respond to those, that is fake and those are imposters, we have no idea what is on that?
TIM: Are you going to respond to our email?
OoS: Look we have no time; we are quite busy to be looking into that. We have no business in Malawi! Are we clear on that?
TIM: The documents I sent you have you seen them or not?
OoS: We dont have to see them, we dont have time, we are too busy I am sorry!
TIM: You dont have to see them?
OoS: Yes am sorry.
TIM: So you dont supply fuel
OoS: NO
TIM: You dont supply fertiliser to Malawi
OoS: No no
TIM: You dont have a contract with Malawi
OoS: No no no
TIM: And your office is HH. Al Qassimi’s office, that is the genuine one?
OoS: Yes Yes
TIM: But you have no contract with Malawi or met anyone from Malawi?
OoS: No no habib you have asked me the same question six times, ask me, we dont do Malawi?
TIM: You dont deal with Malawi?
OoS: No we dont, thank you.
The Investigator Magazine has also identified two individuals as registered owners of OptCoin Malawi which Minister of Transport Jacob Hara wants to be paid K32 billion for the first trench of fuel contract which is suspicious as the owners are a South African and a Malawian. The first is Mr. Clement Kamwangala who is said to be related to Ms Eva Kamwangala mentioned in the report by Ms Helen Buluma to parliament on fuel supply contract to a Nigerian “Chief” Obinna Amucheinwa whom Zamba has tried to push for fuel, energy and fertiliser deals.
The Investigator Magazine is compelled to conclude that the Chief could be behind the fake Sheikh.
Our analysis: Chakwera’s legacy is theft and corruption
The legacy of President Lazarus Chakwera is one of a failed leader. This is a fact. The worst part is that he seems to have surrounded himself with grossly incompetent people whose vision is to “get rich” on public contracts.
Every year there is a fertiliser scandal. The Investigator Magazine has evidence that East Bridge is buying fertiliser from Export Trading to resale for US$23 million to the SFFRFM and they will be paid in Malawi kwacha.
We have exposed consistently deals and attempts to defraud Malawi Government through fuel and fertiliser supply contracts. The evidence is overwhelming.
It is the reaction from the man 59% of Malawians elected to lead that is shocking. He does nothing. Every year there is a fertiliser scandal or fuel or another funny procurement. Once caught, the culprits survive. They are too close and powerful.
What Chakwera is forgetting is that when he goes finally, and one day he will leave office, people will not remember Colleen Zamba, Sam Kawale or Jacob Hara, they will remember the President.
People remember Kamuzu’s killings, people remember Bakili Muluzi’ not his Ministers, people mention Bingu wa Mutharika, others remember Joyce Banda and her short reign. Whatever happens under his watch, his great grandchildren will read one day how he failed to tackle theft and corruption under his watch.
With all the evidence that has been presented, not acting, as President Chakwera us well known for, in the case of the fake Sheikh of Dubai, will mean he endorses it. He is behind all these shady deals- that’s the only reason he doesn’t care or react. It’s his legacy!