Mwanamveka granted bail after ACB arrest

The Anti-Corruption Bureau has on Tuesday arrested the former minister of finance during the Democratic Progressive Party era, Joseph Mwanamveka for allegedly abusing his office in a US$18.3 million procurement deal involving the Homeland Security Ministry.

The statement released by the Malawi’s graft busting body said investigations showed that Mwanamveka arbitrary approved the said amount of money to the said ministry for the unlawful purchase of Uniforms and equipment for the Malawi Prison Services.

Anti-Corruption Bureau Spokesperson Egrita Ndala who signed the statement said the Bureau conducted investigations following reports in 2020 that the Ministry of Homeland Security suspiciously procured Malawi Prison Services Uniforms and other equipment from a company called One Guard FZE of United Arab Emirates without following lawful procedures.

“Following the recording of the allegations the Bureau proceeded to conduct investigations which established that Mr Joseph Mwanamveka abused his office and neglected official duties by among other things approving disbursement of funds to Ministry of Homeland Security without verifying the urgency and importance of the procurement.

“He is likely to be charged with abuse of office and neglect of official duties contrary to Section 25B (1) and Section 121 of the Corrupt Practices Act and the Penal Code respectively. He we will be taken to court after the Bureau has interviewed him,” reads the statement.

Meanwhile, barely hours after his arrest, Senior Resident Magistrate Wanangwa Nyirenda granted him bail before the case come back to court for plea taking.

The Former minister is also being answering another charge of abuse of office over his alleged submission of false figures alongside his partymate, the former Reserve Bank of Malawi Governor, Dr Dalisto Kabambe.

The Majority of members that were in thick positions during the Democratic Progressive Party’s era are answering corruption charges in the Court.