Govt withdraws Chizuma’s interdiction letter
Government has reversed its decision to interdict Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) director general Martha Chizuma and advised her to return to office.
Chizuma, however, already returned to work last Thursday backed by a High Court order Malawi Law Society (MLS) obtained when it challenged the interdiction earlier this month and sought a judicial review on government’s decision.
Secretary to President and Cabinet Colleen Zamba on Tuesday explained in her letter addressed to Chizuma dated February 13 2023 that her decision to reinstate her is based on a decision by Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Masauko Chamkakala to discontinue criminal charges levelled against her.
Reads the letter in part: “Following the discontinuance of the case…the interdiction order imposed on you is cancelled. You are, therefore, reinstated as director of Anti-Corruption Bureau [Grade 1/C].”
Political scientist and governance experts on Tuesday said government’s back and forth decisions on Chizuma reflects badly on the Executive in as far as decision-making is concerned.
In an interview, political scientist Makhumbo Munthali said the Tonse administration would only be taken seriously if it learns to make firm and faultless decisions it can stand by regardless of public backlash.
He said: “Currently, it does show that narrow, vested political interests reign supreme over rational decision-making.
“You expect such offices like that of SPC to be guided by policy and relevant laws, but unfortunately selfish political or bureaucratic interests seem to be the order of the day.”
A former diplomat John Chikago also said developments surrounding Chizuma are unfortunate and paint a picture of an administration that is clueless.
Last Thursday, the country’s development partners that included United States and the United Kingdom intervened after Chizuma’s interdiction, by calling on government to show commitment in its fight against corruption.
On Saturday, Chamkakala announced that his office had made the decision to withdraw the criminal defamation charges against Chizuma over a leaked audio in which the ACB boss was discussing an on-going graft investigation with a third party.
The audio leaked in January last year and President Lazarus Chakwera reprimanded and forgave Chizuma after she owned up the audio.
In the audio she claimed a number of lawyers and government officials, including High Court judges, received bribes from Ashok Nair, an agent of UK-based businessman Zuneth Sattar, who is on ACB’s radar.
Chizuma was scheduled to take plea at the Lilongwe Chief Resident Magistrate’s Court on February 8 under criminal case number 236 of 2023 on two counts.
Police arrested Chizuma at dawn on December 6 2022 following a complaint purportedly filed by former DPP Steven Kayuni about the viral audio.
