DPP says Chizuma’s Interdiction is unlawful, null and void

The former rulling party, Democratic Progressive (DPP) has labelled the Anti-Corruption Bureau Director General Martha Chizuma’s Interdiction as null and void claiming that that the Secretary to the President and Cabinet (SPC) Colleen Zamba posses no legal authority to suspend the Director General.

On Wednesday through the Office of the Secretary to the President and Cabinet, Colleen Zamba, the state President suspended the Corruption graft-busting boss, indicating that the move has been taken due to what has been described as serious misconduct regarding a case [Martha Chizuma] is answering on a leaked audio that circulated on social media in 2021.

Democratic Progressive Party who becomes the second party to condemn the act by the government after United Democratic Front, through the statement signed by the spokesperson, Shadrick Namalomba said DPP views the interdiction of ACB Boss as abuse of power by president Chakwera and his party, Malawi Congress Party.

“It is only the President who has that legal authority and powers under Section 6 (3) of the Corrupt Practices Act of the Laws of Malawi,” said Namalomba.

The Section 6 (3) of the Corrupt Practices Act of the Laws of Malawi states that the President, may if he considers desirable in the public interests to do, suspend the Director from exercising the duties of the Office of the Director pending investigations to determine whether or not the Director may be removed from the office.

Backed by the mentioned section, DPP says Chizuma’s Interdiction is unlawful, null and void as the letter of Interdiction by Zamba is usurpation of the Authority of the President.

DPP added that the President Chakwera and his party, MCP are working tirelessly to distract Martha from discharging her duties professionally yet ACB is one of the institutions of accountability which needs political will and commitments from the President.

Namalomba added, “The issues leading the purported Interdiction of the arrest of Ms Martha Chizuma seems to be orchestrated by the MCP in an effort to shield the Corrupt MCP officials who have been implicated in Corruption scandals. Despite President Chakwera assuring Malawians that he has a strong desire to have Ms Martha Chizuma at the steer of the fight against corruption, President Chakwera is failing to walk the talk. It is clear that purported Interdiction is a signal that President Chakwera is siding with those who are alleged to be embroidered in Corruption scandals within MCP.”

Meanwhile, reports suggest that the Malawi president Lazarus Chakwera ordered the suspension of Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) Director Martha Chizuma following an allegation that a warrant of arrest had been obtained by the ACB for the president’s wife, First Lady Monica Chakwera.

However, it has emerged that the intel was cooked up by people who are plotting to have Chizuma removed as ACB director. President Chakwera is said to have been tipped by a senior Malawi government official in the Office of the President and Cabinet (OPC) that the ACB had obtained a warrant of arrest for Mrs Chakwera.

However, as various quarters continue to condemn the government over the interdiction of Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) director general Martha Chizuma, a grouping called Citizens for Justice and Equity has welcomed the suspension of the ACB chief, saying it is part of the law which Chizuma swore to defend.