Anti-Corruption Alliance demands list of suspects

The Anti-Corruption Alliance, a grouping of civil society organisations (CSOs) against grand and organised corruption, has asked law enforcement agencies to reveal names of all persons suspected of having defrauded tax payers through corruption.

The grouping disclosed this during a media briefing in Mzuzu yesterday, after Malawi Police Service rescinded its decision to summon Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) director general Martha Chizuma for an ‘interview’ over the leaked audio related to ongoing corruption cases and investigations.

Leader of the Alliance, Moses Mkandawire of the Church and Society of the CCAP Synod of Livingstonia, said during the briefing State capture had taken centre-stage in the country, so much so that politically-exposed persons were doing everything possible to derail justice.

“We want all enforcement agencies to release names of people being suspected of committing corrupt practices. We want to know these people. After that is done, those in the civil or public service must step aside and let investigations progress smoothly.

“We cannot continue as a country on this trajectory. Chizuma was forgiven by the President [Lazarus Chakwera] so, why do we have the resurrection of the case now? Who is influencing who and for what reason? These are enemies of the tax payer,” he opined.

On Chizuma’s case following the court order and actions by the police, Mkandawire said the Alliance will be deliberating for possible challenging of the matter at High Court, “so that the order is dismissed and she is left to work efficiently”.

A member of the Alliance, Charles Kajoloweka of the Youth and Society (YAS) said hiding names of people being suspected of committing crime was not helping as it has created a gang of ghosts who are secretly thwarting the anti-graft fight.

“We don’t need ghosts, let the names be revealed. We need names, we don’t need to be shooting in the dark,” he said.

Kajoloweka also urged the Judiciary to investigate factors leading to the Mzuzu judgement, arguing that Chizuma has been a target by many people who are corrupt and want to continue defrauding the government.

On Wednesday, DPP Kayuni asked the Inspector General (IG) of Police to investigate and authenticate the leaked audio linked to Chizuma in the wake of a court order on April 7 this year.

While the police initially invited Chizuma for an interview yesterday, the service later changed amid social media reports that some quarters were organising protests over Chizuma’s summoning by police.

Instead, police said it will organise a press conference at its headquarters on Monday “to attend to all public questions or concerns regarding the court order and allay any fears generated by its misrepresentation and politicisation in the media”.