Confirming the raid, MRA Spokesperson  Steve Kapoloma said the search followed a tip alleging tax evasion offences relating to non-issuance of EFD receipts as a way of evading VAT; Under declaration of income tax; and failure to charge and remit withholding taxes.

“The authority obtained a search warrant, conducted the search and some documents have been collected for analysis to determine whether the allegations are true or not,” he said.

However, in an interview with a local newspaper on Thursday, Mchacha, who doubles as Democratic progressive Party (DPP) Governor for the South and Parliamentarian for Thyolo West, claimed that the search was political.

He claimed that the raid was in reaction to the press conference his party and its leadership conducted in Mangochi recently.