26 June 2005

Malawi again

Scotland on Sunday reports on the First Minister's Malawi fund:
The fund, set up by the First Minister at the beginning of this month after a high-profile trip to Malawi, has so far fallen short of expectations.
Allegations of corruption in the Malawian government, with stories of aid money being used for the purchase of luxury cars, has resulted in only £26,000 being raised - far short of the six-figure sum McConnell had hoped for.
Further trouble was heaped on the fund last week when impeachment proceedings were launched against the country's president, Bingu wa Mutharika, by Malawi MPs, claiming he used government funds to buy a Mercedes and to pay for his grandchildren's education.

£26,000 seems like a rather minuscule return. And how can the Scottish Executive avoid the return visit of the Malawi President (in November, I think) becoming something of an embarrasment?

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