AG Thabo Chakaka Nyirenda

 

Malawi Government has filed an application against  the injunction which reactivate the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) director general Martha Chizuma.

On 6 February, 2023 Malawi Law Society (MLS) obtained an injunction against Chizuma’s suspension and arrest.

However the injunction restrains Secretary to the President and Cabinet (SPC) Colleen Zamba from interdicting Chizuma and also restrains police prosecutor Levison Mangani from charging Chizuma over her leaked audio.

According to Chizuma's lawyer Martha Kaukonde, the ACB boss returned to office following the injunction.

On the other hand Government yesterday filed an urgent application before the High Court in Blantyre to remove the Monday injunction.

The Court's documents indicate Attorney General (AG) Thabo Chakaka-Nyirenda to have been hired former Attorney General Kalekeni Kaphale as well as  Chancy Gondwe and George Jivason Kadzipatike to represent Mangani and Zamba in the case between the state and Malawi Law Society.

Nyirenda has told the local media that he cannot represent the state in the case due to conflict of interest.

The decision by the Government to challenge the injunction appears to prove reports that the Lazarus Chakwera administration is not in want of Chizuma as ACB director general despite Chakwera publicly expressing support for Chizuma.

Analysts argue that the continue efforts to remove Chizuma are aimed at protecting senior government officials.

It was revealed last week that the decision to suspend Chizuma came after senior government officials lied to Chakwera that ACB had obtained an arrest warrant for First Lady Monica Chakwera.

There were also reports that the ACB had obtained an arrest warrant against Zamba who is the subject of corruption allegation made by former National Oil Company of Malawi chief executive officer Helen Buluma, however, the ACB on Friday said there was no arrest warrant against Zamba.