Mutharika removes DPP, anti-corruption chief
Malawi President Peter Mutharika has fired Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Bruno Kalemba and Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) director Rezine Mzikamanda.
The removal of the DPP and ACB comes at a time when the two offices are at the heart of investigations and prosecution of cases related to theft and money laundering of government funds which forensic auditors found amounted to K13 billion (about $34m) between April and September 2013.
Capital Hill sources familiar with the redeployments in the civil service told The Nation that Mzikamanda would be resuming his role as judge of the Malawi Supreme Court.
However, the source did not indicate Kalemba’s next destination. Kalemba has served as DPP since May 2012.
According to Section 6 (2) of the Corrupt Practices Act, the President can only remove the ACB director with the confirmation of the Public Appointments Committee (PAC) of Parliament for inability to perform his functions.
On the other hand, according to Section 102 (2), a DPP can be removed from office upon reaching retirement age, proven incompetence and incapacitation or if the officer is compromised to the extent that his impartiality comes into serious question.
Both Kalemba and Mzikamanda said yesterday they were not aware of the development by afternoon.
Said Kalemba: “I am hearing it from you. Maybe I will find the letter when I get to the office this afternoon.”
The reasons for the removal of the DPP have not been communicated to Kalemba, but last week, businessperson and Cashgate suspect Osward Lutepo accused the DPP and special prosecutor in the Cashgate cases, Kamudoni Nyasulu, of professional misconduct for allegedly forcing him to make false witness and caution statements implicating lawyers Ralph Kasambara and Wapona Kita in another case.
I am shocked that to some people these dismissals are coming as a surprise, but are they really? We all knew from the previous DPP regime how everyone who does not belong or pay homage to the Mulahko cult was either told to resign or get fired from their high offices; this is a clear manifestation of how nepotism is embedded in the blood of APM and the entire DPP party. Old habits die hard and there is more bad news to come for all high ranking professionals who are Chewas or Northerners, if I were you I would have been polishing my CV and puting it out there for other potential employers to see……..vote with your heads next time.