State-Chizuma tussle worry EU
The European Union (EU) says it is “hugely” concerned with the legal tussles between the State and Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) director general Martha Chizuma and warned this has the potential to derail the graft fight.
In an exclusive interview in Lilongwe on Wednesday, EU Ambassador Rune Skinnebach said the EU shared the concerns raised by the Embassy of the United States of America in relation to the Malawi Government’s bid to vacate a court order that reversed Chizuma’s interdiction.
He said: “I share a little bit of the concern of the US Ambassador when it comes to the ability to function, we have seen under the past two months of duress.
“We have seen that the DG [director general] has been arrested then released, there have been other stories, and under such conditions it is difficult to function in absolute manner and therefore, it concerns us hugely as well.”
Chizuma’s interdiction followed criminal defamation charges against her following a leaked audio conversation with a third party in which she allegedly accused former Director of Public Prosecutions Court of Malawi Judge Simeon Mdeza of being corrupt.
Skinnebach said the EU, one of the country’s major donors, is currently monitoring the outcome of the court case before it can pronounce its position.
He said: “We know there was interdiction, we know it was lifted after Malawi Law Society moved the court, we know that now there is an action going to get this [court order] defended and there we have to see the outcome before we pronounce ourselves on this.
“What matters to us is that institutions and people are accountable, and that commitment is turned in action and process.”
Skinnebach warned that the country will struggle to attract aid and create a conducive business environment if the fight against corruption is interrupted.
He said: “The fight against corruption is in Malawi’s interest because it is a pre-condition to get this country to develop, it’s a pre-condition to improve the business climate to attract foreign direct investments.
“This is what is needed at this point in time where Malawi is facing food, forex and debt crisis, cholera and there are no means to address all the challenges we are faced here unless we get direct foreign investment.”
