Chizuma speaks out
Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) director general Martha Chizuma has vowed to continue working hard to ensure that all those that allegedly stole money from public coffers are prosecuted.
Speaking in an exclusive interview yesterday, the ACB director called for support from the citizenry if the war against graft is to be won.
Chizuma said: “Corruption fights are complex and risky and in many instances, corruption fights back ruthlessly. But the conviction that the fate of this country largely depends on what we decide and actually do about corruption as a country keeps us pushing forward and I don’t think we have any other option, but to fight it.
“Therefore, what I ask Malawians is for support as the bureau leads in this fight.”
This is the first time Chizuma has spoken out after a leaked audio in which the ACB head alleged some people were working to frustrate her efforts to fight corruption.
The recording earned her a rebuke from President Lazarus Chakwera after she admitted to him that the conversation was authentic.
Chizuma now faces a defamation lawsuit from businessperson Zunneth Sattar’s associate Ashok Kumar Sreedharan, who claims his name was disparaged in the recording.
In the interview yesterday, Chizuma could not be drawn on the lawsuit, saying: “I will not comment on the Ashok lawsuit [as the matter] is in court.
“All I can say is that just like I have been doing in past nine [9] months I been at the bureau, I have been coming to the office, giving it my best and go home.”
But the ACB director general decried what she said was a campaign to discredit her. She said there are also some people that have created a page on social media platform, WhatsApp, which they are using to post things on her behalf.
Chizuma said: “It has taken long since I last posted on Facebook. I cannot speculate why people are doing that but then that’s social media. It’s difficult to control, but I plan to report it to Facebook. To say that an imposter on Facebook page is going to affect my work here, if truth be told, is overkill.”
In a statement yesterday, Human Rights Defenders Coalition chairperson Gift Trapence threw his weight behind Chizuma on the fight against corruption.
He said Chizuma continues ‘to face obstruction in her quest to fight corruption in the country’.
Trapence said: “Regardless, our faith in Ms. Chizuma’s capability to shake the corruption tree to expose the rotten fruit is still intact and we believe she is still the right person for the job.
“As Malawians, we should guard against any threats that will impede her work and ensure that she has the right resources to carry out her legal mandate. Our final call is that it is imperative for all well-meaning Malawians to rally behind Ms. Chizuma…”
