By Mirembe Martina

The only son of the late Malawi president, Bingu wa Mutharika, Madalitso has sold his father’s vehicles on give away prices.

It is said Madalitso started selling the cars after Malawi’s tax collecting body, Malawi Revenue Authority (MRA), demanded duty on  all Mutharika’s personal vehicles which he purchased duty-free while he was in power. The vehicles are 41 in total.

Madalitso allegedly sold the vehicles while his sisters Duwa Mubaira and Tapiwa Mutharika were out of the country on holiday. According to sources at Ndata Palace in Thyolo, Madalisto sold a Toyota 4X4 Double cabin worth K18 million at a give away price of K2 million. His sister Duwa asked for help from Police to trace them.

MRA Commission General John Biziwick on October 23, 2012, wrote to Mutharika’s young brother, Peter Mutharika, a letter referenced number MRA/CE/TECH/30:00 demanding the said customs duty. The vehicles in question were Nissan Pickup, Toyota Hilux, Isuzu KB, Iveco Eurostar, Mercedez Benz CLK240, KIA Sportage, TATA LTP7135, Toyota Fortuner, Toyota Land Cruiser and MF Tractor among others, some of which belong to Bineth Farm.

Peter Mutharika in response together with the widow, Callista and his daughter Tapiwa Mutharika went to court through the Chamgwanjira and Company law firm, seeking an injunction saying they have a constitutional right to property and freedom from arbitrary deprivation. High Court Judge Healey Potani granted the Mutharikas an injunction restraining the MRA from effecting their action.

Mutharika’s children have been fighting with their step mother Callitsa Mutharika over the administration of the deceased’s estate arguing that
Mutharika’s property was under a Bineth Trust, which he and his first wife, late Ethel, founded. The children are some of the beneficiaries of the trust but Callista argued that at the time of Mutharika’s death, she was the legally married to the president.