More arrests in Malawi corruption scandal

A former senior government minister in Malawi and an opposition member of parliament have been arrested on corruption charges.

The former minister, Cassim Chilumpha, was charged in court today Thursday with receiving money from a contractor who had been awarded contracts to build schools.

The opposition MP from the Malawi Congress Party, Daniel Mphunga, was charged with receiving more than seven-thousand dollars from the same contractor and with issuing fake certificates for non-existent work. Two other officials from the ministry of eduction face similar corruption charges.

Investigators from the Malawi Anti-Corruption Bureau say the money received was used for campaigns during parliamentary and presidential elections held last year. Correspondents say twenty-two people have so far been arrested in connection with the award of contracts to build schools which were never constructed.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service