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Law enforcement agencies query CSOs

Ndala: We don’t work on demands
Ndala: We don’t work on demands

Agencies investigating and prosecuting suspects in the cashgate scandal have warned some civil society organisations (CSOs) against issuing deadlines on conclusion of cases.

In separate interviews this week, Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) and the Malawi Police Service (MPS) said the CSOs’ demands are unrealistic and amount to interference in investigations into the plunder.

Last week, following a meeting they had on November 4 2013, 14 CSOs operating under the Grand Coalition agreed that if by November 30 2013 the Joyce Banda administration does not investigate and prosecute culprits of suspicious transactions that occurred between July and September 2013, they would stage demonstrations, facilitate work boycott across the public service and push for regime change.

They also want government to conclude, by June 2014, all major fraud and corruption cases, some of which go back a decade to the Bakili Muluzi administration.

But DPP Bruno Kalemba said the institutions dealing with the issue are regulated by legal instruments that govern issues such as how to conduct criminal prosecution.

“Prosecution  of criminal suspects in Malawi is governed by laws with the Republic of Malawi Constitution at its apex. These laws have built-in time-bound stages and requirements that all concerned must adhere to,” said Kalemba.

ACB spokesperson Egritta Ndala said the body does not work on demands from any quarter, but operates to fulfil its mandate stipulated in the Corrupt Practices Act.

“ACB prioritised the investigations into the Capital Hill case right from the beginning because it is a case of national importance. The bureau is doing all it can to ensure that the investigation is concluded as soon as possible.

“The bureau has already taken to court some of those people suspected to have been involved in the case where there is evidence of suspected wrongdoing,” said Ndala.

Police spokesperson Rhodah Manjolo said while police appreciate the sense of urgency needed in the matter, they will not do a hurried job as that could compromise the quality of evidence.

“We have investigation teams that are dedicated fully to this task. It is a delicate investigation that calls for thorough gathering and analysis of evidence. At the end of the day, all of us are interested in quality evidence, right people being arrested and successful prosecutions,” said Manjolo.

But chairperson of the Council for Non-governmental Organisations (Congoma), Voice Mhone, argued that government has the capacity to investigate the looting within the specified period.

“It should not be difficult because the documentation is fresh. We are talking of information that is in the current budget. As regard the other medium and long-term action, government can do it from January to June. We have narrowed it down in such a way that government should be able to investigate all the cases,” said Mhone.

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4 Comments

  1. The CSOs are not entirely out of their minds to request time-lines. For any project to succeed it requires timeframes otherwise the project will go on infinitely and an organisation and eventually a country will not proposper. No wonder our Malawi has always been stagnant; infact it is moving backwards against time. For instance’ where is Muluzi case and others?? Stagnant.
    For my free advice: Progress is measured against Timeframe/Timetable.

  2. The so called CSOs dyera basi what are they really doing in Malawi because most of these CSOs are operating in the cities and they are not even representing the people.they are there to fill their tomies thus so nothing from them.they need just to make noise and alarm people for nothing.we don’t benefit anything from these groups.they just mobilze people for their interests.they would only need people to use them but when it comes to issues of meetings with government they don’t even bother to seek views from the same people they use them as tools to achieve their intended goals.we don’t want chisokonezo ife.The government is busy trying to make things sorted out.The President has talked alot about her stance against corruption so what do these so called CSOs want from the President nsanje basi.Let us warn you do not bring confusion in our country its not only for you who has responsibility of making noise in this country.Some of these CSOs are family business they are not even know in the communities where the masses are.The President summoned parliament earlier than its scheduled time to tackle the issue of cashgate so what else do you want from the president let us be realist and avoid irrational decisions to confuse.

    Freedom

  3. We have been patient on this and many other unconcluded corrupt cases for too long. ACB must understand that it too has let us down. In fact it needs to understand that it is this institution that has led to situation as it is for lack of being proactive among its many weaknesses.

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