The head of Malawi’s anti-corruption bureau suspended for controversial audio leaked in 2022

2 Feb. (EUROPA PRESS) –

The Malawian authorities have suspended the head of the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), Martha Chizuma, from her position over audio leaks twelve months ago in which she made comments about investigations carried out by her office.

The decision has been adopted in the framework of a lawsuit filed against Chizuma for these recordings, which went viral in January 2022, and in view of his appearance for allegedly harming a person undergoing legal proceedings.

The Secretary of the Presidency, Colleen Zamba, has stressed that Chizuma “must stop exercising his powers and functions” and “not leave Malawi without written permission” while this suspension lasts, according to the newspaper ‘Nyasa Times’.

Malawi President Lazarus Chakwera has publicly defended Chizuma against the accusations against her and in January confirmed her in office despite the content of the recordings, in which she divulges classified information about various investigations.

He also announced the dismissal of the chief prosecutor, Steven William Kayuni, due to the controversial arrest in December of the head of the ACB and stressed that “it is serious that the chief prosecutor had a moment about an erroneous judgment or a conflict of interest.”

The president explained that “Chizuma has a constitutional right to file a lawsuit against the person who recorded his statements against his will” and added that “he will prevent a person from trying to use his position in a public institution to attack another with the aim of fixing personal accounts”.

Chizuma was indicted for her statements, in which she made specific reference to Kayuni. In the audio leaked in April, the head of the ACB branded the then chief prosecutor of Malawi as “corrupt” and “engaged” in alleged corruption cases, which led to his arrest.

Malawi’s president announced late on Tuesday a government reshuffle that includes a reduction in the number of ministers and the appointment of seven new faces, including an opponent, after complaints against several ministers for their alleged involvement in corruption cases.

Chakwera prevailed in the 2020 elections, which were held after the 2019 presidential elections – in which former president Peter Mutharika was re-elected – were annulled by the courts due to irregularities during the process.

After that, the new president promised in his inaugural speech at the end of June 2020 to fight corruption in the country and asked the judicial apparatus “to do more to end the culture of corruption and selective justice”, although members of his own Executive They have been embroiled in corruption scandals.