Corrupt cartels let loose
Those that have followed the politics around the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), especially how each government has been unwilling to capacitate the institution, would not be surprised with the events of the past week.
From issues of underfunding to corruption court cases that take a lifetime to conclude, politicians, most of whom are the major beneficiaries of corruption, have since ACB’s inception made sure that the institution does not perform to its full capacity. In that way, they can continue to plunder public resources and at the same time avoid jail time.
The events in the past week may have come as a surprise but that was expected and it was simply a matter of time before the corrupt bandits unleashed their full wrath on a woman whose only sin is to fight those stealing from poor Malawians and plunging Malawi into abject poverty.
Many may have been fooled by the President when he publicly chided Martha Chizuma for the leaked audio but later on forgave her. Let’s not lie to ourselves, he never really forgave her. From that time on, the corrupt individuals, most of whom are also somehow politically exposed, have been hard at work finding ways of stopping Chizuma from touching them.
This government from the onset, has been unwilling to let ACB work independently and unwilling to go after those suspected to be involved in corrupt activities. The leaked audio is a mere excuse to remove Chizuma and in the process incapacitate ACB.
Malawians have been duped by this Tonse Alliance government that promised to put an end to corruption by ensuring that the ACB is fully empowered to fight corruption and go after even those in government. However, it is abundantly clear from the President, those close to him and to the lowest ranking government official, that there is no zeal for ending corruption.
Chakwera has stood on many podiums and passionately told Malawians and the world that he is the man to end all evils brought by corruption, but his actions on the other hand, are in sharp contrast to his words.
Malawi can no longer afford to go back to the days when public resources plunder was normalised as leaders looked the other way.
