PAC backs Kapondamgaga return
The Public Affairs Committee (PAC) has backed President Lazarus Chakwera’s decision to reinstate State House chief of staff Prince Kapondamgaga.
In an interview on Tuesday, PAC spokesperson Reverend Gilford Matonga said the quasi-religious body has no problem with Chakwera’s decision to reinstate Kapondamgaga.
He said the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) cleared Kapondamgaga and penalising him would be unfair.
Said Matonga: “Any person in this country is innocent until proven otherwise by the court. So, in this case, we will be very hesitant as Public Affairs Committee to condemn or not to condemn the President because he is following the rule of law in that particular regard until it is proven that the law was not followed.
“Now whether the fight against corruption is being won or not based on this single case, then we have to review the law that guides Anti-Corruption Bureau in its action.”
Presidential press secretary Anthony Kasunda confirmed on Tuesday that Kapondamgaga has been reinstated, but could not give more details.
“What I can say is that yes, Mr. Kapondamgaga is here [at State House],” he said in his short response.
However, Malawi University of Business and Applied Sciences development communication lecturer Andrew Kaponya said the optics of the decision may not look well in terms of messaging in the context of government’s commitment to fight corruption.
Kapondamgaga was suspended on July 21 2022 following an ACB report that linked him to dealings with United Kindgom-based businessperson Zunneth Sattar, who was being investigated for allegedly bribing government officials to influence award of public contracts to his firms.
But ACB spokesperson Egrita Ndala in a statement issued on July 7 2023 said while the graft-busting body’s investigations established that Kapondamgaga received a Mercedes Benz S-Class 350d and other gifts from Sattar, the Chief of Staff signed a restitution agreement with the bureau after recording a statement; hence, he will not face criminal charges.
Restitution refers to a claim or remedy requiring a defendant to give up benefits wrongfully obtained.
The ACB has since completed and closed investigations against him.
The bureau further recommended that the Office of the President and Cabinet should immediately review the Malawi Public Service Regulations in accordance with Chakwera’s directive on June 21 2022.
The presidential directive pertained to the suspension of Kapondamgaga pending ACB’s investigations.
With the ACB’s recommendation to the OPC, it meant Kapondamgaga’s suspension be put aside, allowing him to resume his duties.
He was suspended alongside the then Public Procurement and Disposal of Assets (PPDA) chairperson John Suzi-Banda who resigned two weeks later.
The ACB’s report also implicated Vice-President Saulos Chilima, former Inspector General of Police George Kainja and 53 other public officers.
While Kainja was fired, Chakwera withheld Chilima’s delegated powers pending the ACB’s investigations.
The ACB arrested Kainja on June 23 2022 for receiving an advantage from Sattar to influence a procurement contract reference number MPS/SB/16/04/2021 to supply 350 000 food ration packs worth $7 875 000.
