PAC meets ACB boss, commissioner
The Public Appointments Committee (PAC) of Parliament on Tuesday assessed the competences of newly appointed Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) director Lucas Kondowe and Civil Service Commission commissioner Isaac Zimba Bondo.
PAC chairperson Lingson Belekanyama confirmed the development in an interview. He said the two underwent a vigorous one and a half hours session in Lilongwe yesterday afternoon.
However, Belekanyama could not reveal the outcome of the interviews, saying the public will know the results from the appointing authority.
He said: “I can confirm that we have just conducted the interviews this afternoon, but it is not my responsibility to reveal the outcome. I will be communicating to the appointing authority tomorrow morning [Wednesday] who will thereafter release the results.”
In a separate interview, Kondowe confirmed meeting the 20-member PAC for scrutiny, but said he was yet to be communicated about the results.
“I think they [interviews] went on quite well. There were lots of questions from the committee members, but let us wait and see what will come out,” said Kondowe.
However, a source within the committee told The Nation that Kondowe met a stiff opposition as some committee members fired him with questions that touched on various issues from all fronts.
Earlier, Kondowe reportedly asked PAC chairperson to enter the interview room with his wife to witness the proceedings, but his request was rejected by Belekanyama.
President Peter Mutharika appointed Kondowe as ACB boss, replacing Malawi Supreme Court of Appeal judge Rezine Mzikamanda on October 8 2014.
Should he be confirmed, Kondowe will lead the graft-busting body in investigating and prosecuting those suspected of looting and plundering of public funds at Capital Hill in a scam notoriously known as Cashgate, which saw billions of kwacha siphoned by public servants and private businesspersons with strong links to authorities.
Before his appointment, Kondowe, who in an earlier interview pledged to lead an ACB that does not keep ‘sacred cows’, was general manager of First Merchant Bank (FMB) responsible for finance, planning and strategy.
