The controversial Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) Outside Broadcasting vehicle (OB Van) has been declared a crime scene by Malawi Police authorities and investigations have already commenced.Cables can exclusively reveal.
This follows the arrival of the OB Van at MBC headquarters at Chichiri in Blantyre over the weekend.
Police investigators from the Fiscal Department visited MBC premises on Tuesday where they inspected the vehicle as part of their probe.
They thoroughly checked the van and took some pictures as part of their efforts in order to get to the bottom of this controversial purchase that has raised many eyebrows from well meaning Malawians.
As the Police left the scene, they advised officials at Chichiri Broadcasting House not to tamper with the vehicle as it was now a crime scene.
However, the Police instruction fell on deaf ears as soon after staff knocked-off, three employees were captured tampering with the vehicle possibly trying to conceal some evidence that may be of interest to the Police.
At around 6 o’clock in the evening, Procurement Manager Hastings Manda, Sports Presenter Frank Kandu and driver Brian Mmaka were caught fiddling with the system of the controversial OB Van.
The trio were observed trying to open the front engine of the vehicle but failed on several occasions. Later, driver Brian Mmaka took to the front seat of the car but completely failed to kick start the Van.
All this was being done against Police investigators’ advice that no-one should tamper with the vehicle.
According to MBC insiders, Manda and Kandu are the best of friends mostly united by their sports commentary.
Following their closeness, Manda in his capacity as MBC Procurement Manager facilitated the appointment of Kandu as a member of the Internal Procurement Committee where the duo are reported to have been sharing money given as bribes from suppliers.
The controversial OB Van was bought from Italy by the disgraced former Director General George Kasakula and his former Board Chairperson Reverend Vasco Kachipapa of the Nkhoma Synod.
It is reported that MBC paid about Mk 3 Billion for the OB which has generated a lot of debate from the public who feel that the national broadcaster cheated the Malawian public on its actual value.
Despite the OB Van being declared brand new on its purchase, last Friday, it was reported being panel beaten in the city of Mzuzu and mechanics were also located at the same venue working on the engine of the car.
It is not known when exactly the Police will conclude their investigations on this latest MBC scandal.