Africa-Press – Malawi. The Episcopal Conference of Malawi (ECM) has appealed to President Lazarus Chakwera and Vice President Saulos Chilima to ensure that the security of Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) Director General Martha Chizuma is not compromised.
The bishops have further advised Chakwera not to intimidate Chizuma and ACB employees. The bishops have said this in a statement titled ‘A Call for A Relentless Fight’, dated January 19 2022.
The statement has been signed by all ECM members including archbishops Thomas Msusa of Blantyre Archdiocese, George Tambala of Lilongwe Archdiocese and bishops Martin Mtumbuka of Karonga Diocese, Peter Musikuwa of Chikwawa Diocese, Montfort Stima of Mangochi Diocese, John Ryan of Mzuzu Diocese and Peter Chifukwa of Dedza Diocese.
“We appeal to the Head of State Dr Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera, the Vice President Dr Saulos Chilima and all relevant State institutions and their Heads to ensure the security of the ACB staff, especially the Director- General.
“No one should be pressurised, intimidated or influenced by threats or any other means in the carrying out of their work for the good of the country. We plead…that any of the investigations or cases which the ACB is dealing with are not in any way obstructed or influenced. Let no suspect, however wealthy or who their connections are, be shielded or protected provided that he or she is given proper recourse to the legal processes of the courts,” the statement reads.
The bishops have commended Chizuma for standing strong in the fight against corruption. “We sincerely applaud and support the efforts of the Anti Corruption Bureau and its Director General Ms Martha Chizuma for their bravery, professionalism and determination in fighting corruption, especially as they have been doing over the past six months,” the statement reads.
The bishops’ statement comes barely a day after Public Affairs Committee members engaged Chakwera over several governance flaws under his administration.
The statement also comes after the ACB recently arrested Lands, Housing and Urban Development Minister Kezzie Msukwa over alleged corrupt practices in land deals allegedly involving rich businessman Zuneith Sattar and his agent Ashok Kumar Sreedharan, also known as Ashok Nair.
Msukwa challenged the arrest and High Court Judge Zione Ntaba of Zomba Registry suspended the arrest, paving the way for Msukwa’s appeal for judicial review of the arrest. And High Court Judge in Lilongwe Simeon Mdeza on Friday last week granted Msukwa leave for judicial review.
Mdeza also released Sreedharan, who was remanded at Maula prison. Last week, unknown people broke into Chizuma’s house and stole a phone and laptop. A similar incident took place at the office of the Ombudsman, where a computer was stolen.
The ACB also disclosed this week that it was getting erratic funding, forcing staff to use personal money for operations. In their letter, the bishops have also asked the Judiciary to avoid making suspicious judgements and pronouncements which are seen neither to be promoting justice nor fighting against corruption.
“We appeal to the Judiciary to ensure that cases regarding corruption are expedited and that everyone is seen to be treated fairly and similarly before the law. Loss of public trust in law enforcement agents of the State [whose aim is] to combat corruption fuels mob justice and is a recipe for civil disorder,” the statement reads.
They have also asked the development community to provide adequate resources to the ACB “considering the unprecedented fight against corruption the bureau has put up over the last six months”. In reaction to the statement, Information Minister Gospel Kazako said Wednesday that the government would protect Chizuma.
“We take seriously the reminder that we need to strengthen protection of the human software we are using in the fight against corruption. We know of the importance of providing top-notch security to the ACB Director General,” he said.
Kazako said Catholic bishops were a mirror to the government and their advice could not be ignored. He said the statement was a source of encouragement to the government, confirming that the government was not alone in the fight against corruption.
“We have support from the church and that will assist in the dilution of the perception that fighting corruption amounts to persecution,” he said.
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