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Malawi official fled with Beijing funds, reports say

A Malawian official who played a key role in the government's decision to switch diplomatic recognition from Taiwan to China has fled the country after pocketing the million-dollar "sweetener" Beijing had originally intended for the president, media reports in Malawi said.

A Malawi newspaper, the Nyasa Times, reported that Minister of Presidential and Parliamentary Affairs David Katsonga had angered President Bingu wa Mutharika by taking the "billions of kwachas" meant for the president after he broke ties with Taiwan to recognize Beijing late last year (US$1=141 kwachas).

The president has demanded Katsonga's immediate return.

FINANCIAL PACKAGE

Malawi reportedly agreed last month to switch diplomatic recognition to China in exchange for a US$6 billion financial package. However, Lilongwe waited until this month to announce it was severing its 42-year relationship with Taiwan when President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) was out of the country.

Taiwan has since condemned the African country for colluding with Beijing to humiliate Taiwan.

Katsonga, a pro-China supporter, and another ranking Malawian official, Chimunthu Banda, were sent to Beijing to sign a memorandum of understanding last month, paving the way for the new alliance.

Quoting an anonymous government official close to Mutharika, the paper said: "A fellow Cabinet minister tipped the president off about the money from China."

ON THE RUN

Another Malawi news outlet, the Nation, revealed that Katsonga was on the run, saying he left Malawi on Jan. 16 for the UK through the Malawi-Zambia border at Mchinji.

Katsonga allegedly has a property in southeastern London and was once jailed in the UK for blackmailing a "sex mad, mile-high club" social worker.

The London Metropolitan Police would not confirm whether Malawi had enlisted their help in tracking down the official.

VACATION?

The Nation said the Malawian government had downplayed Katsonga's disappearance, claiming he was on vacation.

One Nyasa Times reader wrote that the Mutharika administration should fire Katsonga to protect the nation's dignity, while another said Katsonga's disappearance was proof that the establishment of Malawi-China ties would only benefit politicians from Malawi's ruling Democratic Progressive Party.
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