Lifestyle audit starts third quarter—Chizuma

Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) director general Martha Chizuma says the bureau expects to start implementing a civil service lifestyle audit in the third quarter of the 2022/23 financial year.

In an interview yesterday, she said the bureau will use part of its budget allocation under the Other Recurrent Transactions (ORT) line.

However, Chizuma said the bureau is also courting other donors to support the process.

She said: “I need to add that there have been calls, especially from the National Integrity Committee, for the bureau to extend the lifestyle audits to those outside the public service as they are not spared from corruption.

“However, it is important to note that Section 32 of the Corrupt Practices Act [CPA] which we are doing this process, on only applies to those in public service.

“The good news at the moment is that the CPA is undergoing some review so these recommendations [to extend audits to the private sector] are being considered.”

During the National Anti-Corruption Dialogue held on November 17 and 18 2021, the issue of lifestyle audits was one of the areas identified as a potential game-changer in the fight against corruption.

The ACB, alongside the Ministry of Justice, were tasked to develop a roadmap for implementation of the lifestyle audits in public service.

Chizuma said the plan was developed last month and roles of the various institutions during the process were identified.

She said experts from the ACB, Office of Director of Declaration of Assets, Financial Intelligence Authority, Malawi Police Service, National Intelligence Services, Malawi Revenue Authority and Office of the President and Cabinet will meet to develop a Lifestyle Audits Manual.

“This will be the guideline in lifestyle audits. After that there will be a national symposium for the validation of the manual,” Chizuma said.

When asked on Wednesday on the number of public servants that have so far declared their assets and if there are any questionable cases warranting to be referred to the ACB, Office of the Director of Declaration of Assets spokesperson Tiyamike Phiri asked for more time before responding.

But Public Accounts Committee of Parliament chairperson Shadric Namalomba yesterday said the committee expected every public official to be included in the scope of the audit.

He said: “We are talking of Cabinet ministers and members of Parliament [MPs]. Even those individuals that do business with the government must be targeted. Let the rule of law prevail and there should be no sacred cows.”

Our efforts to seek reaction from Malawi Confederation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry (MCCCI), the voice of the private sector, proved futile.

But political parties have described the lifestyle audit as a welcome initiative.

Malawi Congress Party (MCP) spokesperson the Reverend Maurice Munthali said as a party, they have the zeal and passion to support the ACB as it helps President Lazarus Chakwera deliver on his promise of ending corruption.

While United Democratic Front spokesperson Yusuf Mwawa, said: “The initiative should, however, not be used for witch-hunting.”