Group pushes for anti-graft demos
A group calling itself Citizens Against Impunity and Corruption (Caic) is set to lead protests next Wednesday against what it considers unchecked graft and impunity in Malawi.
The grouping is also targeting one private individual: Ashok Kumar Sreedharan for his decision to sue Martha Chizuma, who is Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) director general, for defamation.
Sreedharam, whose arrest by the ACB over alleged corruption relating to land transactions was unconditionally quashed by the High Court, is suing Chizuma in her personal capacity based on an audio recording in which he says the Bureau’s head made statements that damage his reputation.
The demonstrations, according to a notice submitted to the Lilongwe City Council (LCC), Lilongwe District Council and Malawi Police Service (MPS), are planned to start from Area 2 in the capital city.
According to the organisers, the marchers will converge at Lilongwe Community Center Ground where they march to Ashok house in Area 9 through Lilongwe Town Hall in Area 3 and Maula.
Signed by lawyer Sylvester Ayuba James, the notice dated February 24 2022 reads in part: “In line with provisions of Section 94 as read with Section 95 of the Police Act, we hereby notify you of intended demonstrations to be held by citizens of this country on 2nd March 2022.
“The demonstrations are a direct result of the careless decision of Mr Ashok Kumar Sreedharan, a corruption suspect, to sue the people’s director of the ACB on matters arising from the very same case in which Mr Ashok is being sought to be prosecuted. We have decided to meet this man so that he knows us and we also know him in person.”
Sreedharan, a business associate of Zunneth Sattar, who is currently being investigated in Malawi and the United Kingdom for financial transactions suspected to have corrupt elements, has based his lawsuit on a leaked audio in which the ACB chief is heard telling an unidentified person during a telephone conversation that the quashing of Spreedharan’s arrest smacked of corruption and that trillions of ill-gotten money has gone through him.
Sreedharan’s arrest was linked to former minister of Lands Kezzie Msukwa’s arrest on allegations of corruption relating to land deals.
In the demonstration notice bearing acknowledgement stamps and signatures from police and LCC, Ayuba James describes Caic as “a congregation of well-meaning and patriotic citizens who have mobilised themselves to stand up against impunity and governments unfathomable tolerance to corruption.”
In an interview on Thursday, LCC chief executive officer John Chome said they will review the notice with police and district authorities before issuing a response to the organisers.
“I have just received that letter. The procedure that we have is that we will sit down with the usual parties we meet before we write to those who are asking to conduct the demonstrations,”he said.
Asked if they can guarantee security of Sreedharan in the wake of the demonstrations targeting his place of residence, national police spokesperson James Kadadzera said “talk to the city council. They are responsible for granting permission”.
Screedharan’s lawsuit has sparked national debate.
For example, University of Malawi law professor Garton Kamchedzera in a write up wondered on Wednesday why crime investigation and prosecution agencies have not questioned the man with whom Chizuma conversed in the leaked audio.
Veteran human rights defender Undule Mwakasungula and the Human Rights Defenders Coalition on Wednesday separately called for support for Chizuma and the ACB in the wake of the lawsuit.
Others have argued that Screedharan is only exercising his rights of seeking legal redress if he feels aggrieved.
