The European Investment Bank (EIB), set to conclude funding for a K13 billion water treatment works project for Lilongwe, has questioned Capital Hill why it has hired Godfrey Itaye, former MACRA Director General, as the new CEO for Lilongwe Water Board.
Itaye is on Police bail after fraud charges were allegedly levelled against him.
The bank, in a letter to Government, which has been widely quoted by local print media, said it had hoped to ink the deal with Finance Ministry but it was worried the recruitment of Itaye in June may affect the process.
The bank said charges raised against Itaye will “negatively impact our ability to conclude financing the contract with the Ministry of Finance as we are unable to have persons under criminal charge involved in our project, particularly given the relatively recent incident of irregularity.”
Secretary to the President and Cabinet Zanga Zanga Chikhosi declined to comment on the matter, while Williams Banda, Finance Ministry’s spokesman confirmed of receving the letter from EIB.
