Retired Justice Twea to chair the Commission of Enquiry on the arrest of ACB Boss
The retired Supreme Court of Appeal Justice, Edward Twea has tasked to Chair the Commission of Enquiry that the State President Dr Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera has appointed to investigate the recent arrest of Anti-Corruption Bureau General Director, Martha Chizuma.
The Corruption graft-busting boss was arrested by Police arguing that the arrest was linked to a leaked audio which circulated on social media early this year.
The arrest raised many questions as government through the ministry of Information, ministry of justice said they were not aware of the arrest of Chizuma.
In reaction to the development, Dr Chakwera in exercise of the power conferred upon him by section 89 (1) (g) of the Constitution of Republic of Malawi as read with section 2 (1) of the Constitution of the Enquiry Act (Chapter 18:1 of the Laws of Malawi) has appointed a 12-member Commission of Enquiry to investigate vindicating the truth behind the matter.
The Commission of Enquiry is with effect from 6th December, 2022 and they are expected to submit a written report to Dr Chakwera within 14 working days from the day of its swearing in.
The members of the commission are as follows, Justice Edward Twea (Rtd), Mr Enock Chibwana, Mons Patrick Thawale, Mr Dzodzi, Ms Maureen Kachingwe, Mr John Gift Mwakhwawa, Ms Innocencia Chilombo, Ms Kassim Mdala Amuli, Rev Elsie M Tembo, Senior Chief Tengani, Ms Lingaliro Mihowa, and Mr Frank Kaliwamfumbi.
“The Commission shall act in accordance with the Provisions of the Act and, subject thereto shall have power to investigate matters of public and national interest concerning allegations of improper conduct, abuse of office and illegality surrounding the arrest of ACB Director General and alp matters ancillary,” reads part of the press release signed by Deputy Secretary to the President and Cabinet Dr Janet L Banda SC.
The Commission has therefore, appealed to the members of the general public who may have relevant information and knowledge pertaining to the arrest of the ACB Director General to volunteer such information.
Twea, joined the Judiciary in 1978 as State advocate, served for 20 years, thus from 2001 to 2021, as chairperson for the National Child Justice Forum; chairperson for the Child Justice Directorate and chairperson for the Board of Visitors Child Case Review.
Several stakeholders, including the Malawi Human Rights Commission (MHRC), United Nations Children’s Emergency Fund and local civil society organisations through the Centre for Youth and Child Affairs has full praise to Twea for fighting for children’s justice during his career.