The United States Embassy in Malawi has condemned the Malawi Government under President Lazarus Chakwera for waging a war against Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) director general Martha Chizuma.
In a statement today, the embassy has said the actions of the government have severely undermined the credibility of the Chakwera administration’s fight against corruption.
In December, Chizuma was arrested over her leaked audio and last week Secretary to the President and Cabinet Colleen Zamba suspended Chizuma due to the allegations relating to the audio.
This week Malawi Law Society (MLS) obtained an injunction against the interdiction of Chizuma as well as the arrest and continued prosecution.
However, the government through Attorney General Thabo Chakaka Nyirenda yesterday made an urgent application to vacate the injunction.
“The Attorney General’s urgent application yesterday a court order isssued earlier this week culminates two months of harassment by Government of Malawi officials against Anti-Corruption Bureau director general Martha Chizuma,” the United States Embassy has said in its statement.
The embassy has also expressed concern that no one who carried out or authroised the arrest of Chizuma has been held to account but instead a Commission of Inquiry established by the Government released an “unbalanced report” that did not address violations of Chizuma’s fundamental rights.
According to embassy, it expects government to actively pursue the fight against corruption and not to wage a campaign against “anti-corruption champions”
“We have actively engaged senior government officials to seek renewed commitment to the fight against corruption but those efforts have not yielded results.
“Our shared commitment to Malawi’s development depends on trust that Malawi will use public resources including development funds transparently, fairly and with accountability .
“These recent actions undermine the credibility of the Malawi Government’s stated commitment to the fight against corruption,” reads part of the statement
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| US Embassy writes |
Meanwhile, there are reports that the government has ordered the private practice lawyers to appeal the judgement made in the High Court in Blantyre.
On Tuesday, Malawi’s top attorney engaged private practice lawyers Kalekeni Kaphale, George Kadzipatike and Chancy Gondwe as part of the State’s defence team in the matter.
Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) Director Martha Chizuma, is once again at liberty to return to office after High Court Judge Mike Tembo dismissed an urgent application by the State to restore her interdiction.
This came a day after the Malawi Law Society (MLS) got a court order stopping all processes commenced by the Secretary to the President and Cabinet in regard to Chizuma.
High Court Judge Justice Mike Tembo thrown out an urgent application which Attorney General Thabo Chakaka Nyirenda made challenging an Injunction which the Malawi Law Society (MLS) obtained against governments decision to interdict the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) Director General, Martha Chizuma and her prosecution.
Justice Tembo in his judgement Wednesday, says the application lacks merit, and has been declined accordingly.
The AG had appointed three private practice lawyers including former Attorney General, Kalekeni Kaphale to vacate the Injunction, which MLS seeks a judicial review.
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| Kunkuyu-Information Minister |
However, Malawi Government says it will not compromise its duty to protect the sovereignty of Malawi and protect domestic institutions such as the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) and their officials from foreign interference.
Minister of Information Moses Kunkuyu has made the remarks in a statement today in response to a statement by the United States Embassy which has expressed support for ACB chief Martha Chizuma and condemned the Lazarus Chakwera administration for waging war against Chizuma.
In his statement, Kunkuyu said government will engage the US Embassy and ambassador through diplomatic channels over the embassy’s concerns about the Chakwera administration.
“This will be done in the spirit of mutual respect, without compromising the duty of Government to protect the sovereignty of Malawi and the independence of domestic public institutions and their officials from foreign interference, as well as the quest for continued cooperation in the development of Malawi and it’s people,” said Kunkuyu.
In its statement this morning, the US Embassy said the Government’s continued harassments of Chizuma undermines the credibility of the Government’s stated commitment to the fight against corruption.
Kunkuyu in his statement, claimed that the government is committed to fighting corruption and will continue strengthening governance institutions such as courts and law enforcement agencies because each of them has a part in the fight.
“Government maintains it’s resolve to continue its unwavering of the Anti-Corruption Bureau as an institution by making it more functionally independent and resourced,” said Kumkuyu.
He added that Government expects this support to result in speedy completion of cases which the bureau is handling.
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| MW gvt writes |
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