Who is in control?

 Pronouncements by Malawi Government officials that even President Lazarus Chakwera did not know about the arrest of Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) director general Martha Chizuma, have prompted stakeholders to wonder who is in control.

In separate interviews and statements, political pundits, lawyers, civil society, rights and religious groups as well as opposition political parties wonder how the President, Cabinet ministers and the Attorney General would not be aware that police were headed for the graft-busting agency’s head.

 They further wonder who might have authorised the police to break into Chizuma’s house in Lilongwe around 3am, whisk her to Namitete Police Station some 48 kilometresaway from the capital city because of a complaint from suspended Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Steven Kayuni which was supposed to be a civil matter.

The stakeholders contend that if indeed the hierarchy was ignorant of the events, Malawians have every reason to get worried as the scenario points to a broken governance system, poor national intelligence network, bad blood among government agencies and that the President is detached from the government system.

In its statement issued on Wednesday evening, the Catholic Commission of Justice and Peace (CCJP) said strange pronouncements from key government ministries on the arrest point to a state of legal and institutional quandary in the fight against corruption.

The statement signed by CCJP national coordinator Boniface Chibwana said the actions of the government in the arrest are bent towards frustrating the functions of the ACB and its leadership.

It reads: “It is important for Malawians to remember that at some point President Chakwera has been a fervent and loud critic of the ACB leadership while at times he has demonstrated his support for the director general in public or official speeches.

“Effectively, this creates uncertainty and doubts over his full support to the battle against corruption in the country.”

CCJP has since said the inquiry into the matter should effectively and independently investigate circumstances surrounding her arrest and conclude the inquest timely with practical remedies.

Malawi Human Rights Commission, in a statement signed by chairperson Scader Louis, said Chizuma’s arrest was ill-timed as it had the potential to not only disrupt, but also to dilute commemoration of the International Anti-Corruption Day slated for today in Kasungu.

She said: “It has been further alleged that some police officers attempted to manhandle her and that she was forced to kneel down before a police officer. The commission will be following up on these related matters to determine if any human rights violations were committed.”

On the other hand, Women Lawyers Association (WLA), in its statement signed by chairperson Maureen Kachingwe and president Mphatso Iphani, stated on Thursday that the underhand measures used by police reminisce days of the one-party rule.

Reads the WLA concern: “This was an abuse of State authority and an attempt to undermine the rule of law, especially regarding the fight against corruption in the country.

“WLA applauds the dropping of the charges against the director general and also the calls for accountability for those that perpetuated and sanctioned the abuse of State power.”

Opposition Democratic Progressive Party also echoed the concerns in a statement signed by the party’s spokesperson Shadric Namalomba.

The party accused the President of leading a government that “is clueless, incompetent, undemocratic and corrupt”.

Peoples Transformation Party president Kamuzu Chibambo, whose party is part of the governing Tonse Alliance, challenged Chakwera to bring out the truth on the maTter.

“We call, therefore, upon the Head of State and Government to swiftly hold to account all those bent on frustrating the corruption fight and whose sole desire is to keep enriching themselves at the expense of the rest of the citizenry and clutching our nation to the dark ages,” he said.

Earlier, the CCAP Synod of Livingstonia through general secretary William Tembo and executive director of the its governance arm, Church and Society, Reverend Mcbowman Mulagha wondered who was in control of the government.

“One wonders if there is any synergy between and among MDAs [ministries, departments and agencies] in the execution of their duties,” reads the statement.

Meanwhile, political strategist Humphreys Mvula believes government’s image requires immediate repairing as it was clear that its systems are broken and that each entity seemed to work parallel of each other.

He said: “The situation is dangerous, the image is bruised. It shows weak systems and non-existent systems. This could not have happened without the National Intelligence Service knowing about it.

“It is time that government got serious. For Chakwera, of course he suspended Kayuni, but that was a sign of a person who has panicked.

“Now, he needs to start micromanaging the systems, he needs better political strategists, needs stronger intelligence systems.”

Minister of Information and Digitisation Gospel Kazako said on Tuesday that grey areas on the arrest are “what the commission of inquiry will establish”.

Police arrested Chizuma on Tuesday following a complaint lodged by now suspended DPP Steven Kayuni in his personal capacity. The DPP alleged he was injured by allegations made by Chizuma in a leaked audio clip in January this year.