Bishops speak on graft fight

 The Episcopal Conference of Malawi (ECM) has added its voice to the Public Affairs Committee’s (PAC) Tuesday statement on corruption, saying government must be fair in its graft fight.

ECM, which is a local assembly of Catholic bishops from all dioceses in the country, said in a statement titled ‘A call for relentless fight against corruption’, that authorities must ensure that no one is “pressurised, intimidated or influenced” in the pursuit for justice.

The ECM statement yesterday comes a day after PAC met President Lazarus Chakwera at Sanjika Palace in Blantyre where it raised a number of governance concerns, including loss of public trust in the manner the current administration is handling corruption issues.

ECM pleaded with government to build a more just and transparent Malawi that benefits all citizens.

It also said government must ensure “that any of the investigations or cases which the ACB is dealing with are not in any way obstructed or influenced”.

“Let no suspect, however powerful, wealthy or who their connections are, be shielded or protected provided that he or she is given proper recourse to the legal processes of the courts,” reads the statement in part.

The ACB is at the centre of public focus following a string of high-profile investigatons and arrests bordering on corruption allegations involving so-called politically exposed persons and businesspersons.

 The bishops also cautioned the Judiciary against making what they termed “suspicious judgements and pronouncements” that erode public confidence.

Further reads the statement: “We appeal to the Judiciary to ensure that cases regarding corruption are expedited and that everyone is seen to be treated fairly and similarly before the law. Avoid making suspicious judgements and pronouncements which are seen neither to be promoting justice nor fighting corruption.”

The fight against corruption also formed part of the discussion between PAC and Chakwera on Tuesday at Sanjika Palace.

 The quasi-religious body was particularly frustrated with the President’s apparent double standards in that he has failed to fire Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development Kezzie Msukwa over corruption allegations when he (Chakwera) was quick to do so with two other ministers, namely Ken Kandodo (Labour) and Newton Kambala (Energy).

According to PAC, this inaction on Msukwa has cast doubt on Chakwera’s political will to fight

 corruption.

“Your Excel l ency, may consider avoiding using selective justice in treating Cabinet ministers, especially on issues you are able to make decisions [on],” PAC chairperson Patrick Thawale told the President on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, ECM also appealed to President Chakwera and his Vice Saulos Chilima, who both spoke passionately against corruption before rising to power, to ensure that ACB staff, including director general Martha Chizuma, get needed security.

The call for security comes after Chizuma reported a break-in at her residence where a laptop and a cellphone were stolen.

And in a follow up interview yesterday, PAC publicity secretary Bishop Gilford Matonga said the President pleaded with the quasi-religious body to give him time before reshuffling his Cabinet since Parliament will be meeting shortly.

Asked why PAC had singled out Secretary to the President and Cabinet (SPC)

 Zanga-Zanga Chikhosi and Minister of Foreign Affairs Eisenhower Mkaka for immediate dismissal, Matonga said this is based on several complaints they have received against these two individuals both from Tonse and outside.

He said: “A lot of people are complaining about the

SPC both from within and outside. There is a bad public perception of the office-holder and this is a key office to operations of government.

“We cannot afford to have someone disliked by the people he serves, serving in that office. So, many issues happening in government point to the weakness of this office.”

Matonga stressed that government should not misconstrue their position as a fight against anyone, saying it is well-meaning feedback aimed at helping the leadership perform better.

“We wish the leadership well and this is why we are always willing to provide honest feedback. Perception matters a lot. We receive complaints on behalf of people.

“We also follow stories and it is on that basis that we asked the President to reshuffle the Cabinet,” he said.

When Presidential Press Secretary Anthony Kasunda was asked what Chakwera makes out of PAC and ECM calls, he said since PAC has seen the need to share what they privately discussed with the President, then it (PAC) should give private responses they received from the President