The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) says lack of resources is delaying the launch of the National Anti-Corruption Strategy (NACS III).
Nevertheless, the graft-busting agency has said it has still planned to launch the guiding document by December 2025 depending on availability of the required resources.
ACB spokesperson Jacqueline Ngongonda’s response comes after The Nation last week reported that the NACS II expired in December 2024 and that the bureau was also operating without a substantive director general for over a year now.
In response to a questionnaire sent prior to publishing the earlier article, Ngongonda said the process of developing the successor strategy is underway and that a drafting team is already in place.
She said: “A drafting team is already in place, and several critical steps have been completed; a national survey to capture citizen and institutional perspectives; an internal review by stakeholders; and an external review conducted by an independent consultant.”
Ngongonda clarified that the bureau derives its mandate and powers from the Corrupt Practices Act (CPA) and other sectoral laws.
Lawyer Jai Banda expressed fear that delays in developing the NACS III will lead to additional expenses, resource allocation issues and potential penalties or fines, ultimately affecting the country’s financial performance and return on investment.
He also said the delay risk slowing down the momentum in graft fight, reputational damage and inefficient resource use including time and personnel, which can hinder the effectiveness of anti-corruption efforts.
On his part, National Anti- Corruption Alliance chairperson Michael Kaiyatsa said the vacuum affects coordination, disrupts continuity in anti-corruption reforms, and limits accountability.
“The delay also weakens the mandate of the ACB and other oversight institutions, which rely on such a strategic framework to guide their interventions, justify budget allocations and foster inter-agency cooperation,” he said.
Malawi has slowed down in efforts to fight corruption in the past three years, with the Corruption Perception Index (CPI) showing that since 2022, the country has maintained its score at 34 points, but has only been moving up on ranking.
