Chakwera launches anti-corruption campaign
President Dr Lazarus Chakwera has launched the anti-corruption campaign in the quest to overcome the corruption cases that have flooded in different sectors in country for the past decades.
Dr Chakwera was speaking during the two-day anti-corruption conference that he hosted on Monday and Tuesday.
He said the campaign is very important stressing that corruption is not an opportunity but an adversary whose intention is to harm the nation.
Dr Chakwera marked corruption as the “biggest enemy to Malawians and the vice is not welcomed here”.
“Our campaign message for the next twenty weeks is that corruption is our biggest enemy here and not welcome. Parents when we go home let’s tell our children that corruption is our biggest enemy,” said Chakwera.
He also urged heads of institutions to tell their subordinate that the vice remains Malawi’s biggest enemy and they should stay away from it.
The same message was also sent to government officials, businessmen, traditional leaders, religious leaders, and political leaders to use their gatherings and podiums to preach that corruption is not welcome in the country.
“The campaign starts today, this is important because every time we each say those words, we will make it known to those surround us what think of corruption and what we are personally committed to do about it.
“The campaign will help us know it that corruption is not an opportunity or an inconvenience or a nuisance but our biggest enemy,” added Chakwera.
Meanwhile, the Anti-corruption Burreau (ACB) director general, Martha Chizuma has hailed Dr Chakwera saying he had organized the national anti-corruption conference at the right time when there are high levels of reported corruption cases.
Chizuma said the Tonse Alliance Government has provided a conducive environment to deal with the vice as it has been around us in Malawi for decades.
The ACB boss said Corruption is evil and has devastated the country for decades but she is optimistic that one day justice will prevail.
“No matter how long it takes, time will come when justice will win in Malawi. Truth will win this country and Malawi will win. Corruption issues are complex, they turn emotional and corruption allegations have divided us as a nation. It has even led to mental bullying,” said Chizuma.
She added that the conference has , therefore, provided a platform for Malawians to reflect on the fight against the vice and devise new methods.
Chizuma said the Burreau needs support and coordination from all its state partners like police, Financial intelligence Authority and Director of Public Prosecution, among others as it is leading the fight against Corruption.
Chizuma assured Malawians that the Burreau will not be coerced or pressured regardless of where that pressure comes from.
Some months ago, the Burreau released a report of Corruption case of the UK based businessman, Zuneth Sattar who gave bribes to top government officials including the vice president, Dr Saulos Chilima, former Inspector General of Malawi Police Dr George Kainja among others.
In reaction to the report, Dr Chakwera suspended the government officials who were complicated in the cases of corruption.
The National Anti-corruption Conference was held in Blantyre at Mount Soche Hotel and started on Monday, July 24 to Tuesday, July 25 under the theme of Resetting the Nation’s Tone.
