Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) deputy director-general Eliya Bodole says the bureau has taken a new approach to clearing long-standing cases alongside new ones amid a political pushback.
He said this in a presentation at the 12th Commonwealth Regional Conference and Annual General Meeting in Kigali, Rwanda.
Bodole told heads of national graft-busting bodies on the continent that it is tricky to deal with followers of prominent politicians. He also said some corruption cases put lives of investigators at risk.
But he reaffirmed the bureau’s belief that dealing with current cases would have “a huge deterrence factor” to corruption and improve the country’s anti-graft indicators.
His presentation reads in part: “Accordingly, valid allegations of corruption, even in the current government, are dealt with swiftly and severely.
“It is a challenge to deal with followers of the political figures arrested. There is need for political support and right tone from the top.”
President Lazarus Chakwera has severally reaffirmed his support for the bureau and in particular ACB director general Martha Chizuma who came under the spotlight when she was recorded discussing ongoing corruption investigations with an outsider in January.
In that recording, Chizuma is also heard expressing frustration that her work is undermined by the Executive, the Judiciary and top politicians suspected of corruption.
The President chided her for unprofessional conduct, but fell short of sacking her.
In his presentation, Bodole said sometimes public procurement deals are sealed “outside the paperwork”.
“While paperwork could be perfect, corrupt deals would have been made already,” he said.
Anti-corruption activist Jeff Kabondo said government needs to tackle organised corruption mostly orchestrated by syndicates of powerful people in both the private and public sector.
Anti-Corruption Alliance chairperson Moses Mkandawire said it is a pity many institutions, including civil society and religious groups, have left “the fight against hyenas or political thieves to the ACB alone”.
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