Police mum on Veep’s 7-day ultimatum

The Malawi Police Service (MPS) yesterday said they would not immediately comment on the seven-day ultimatum it gave Vice-President Saulos Chilima to provide information on rigging claims he made.

During the launch of the United Transformation Movement (UTM) at Masintha ground in Lilongwe on July 21, Chilima claimed government bought a spying machine for recording phone calls and rigging next year’s tripartite elections.

Following the claims, the MPS wrote the Veep on July 27 asking him to provide them with information on the assertions so that a formal investigation is launched.

But when asked on the Veep’s position, his spokesperson Pilirani Phiri referred The Nation to the police.

When contacted, Inspector General (IG) Rodney Jose said they would not at this point make the outcome public as it is strictly between MPS and Office of the Vice-President.

He, however, said the public, through the media, would soon be notified in due course.

“That is privileged information between the Office of the Vice-President and the Malawi Police Service. I do not think it would be proper for me to discuss any outcome through the media. At an appropriate day and time, we will get back to the media.”

But in a separate interview, governance expert Rafiq Hajat, said it is time leaders are held accountable for what they say; otherwise, they risk losing public trust.

He said: “When a leader makes a statement at a public forum, he or she should be fully prepared to prove their assertions or risk losing credibility. Malawi has suffered from a culture of impunity and it is high time that leaders are held accountable for their words and deeds.”