Catholic bishops alarmed by Chakwera's "ignorance" over Chizuma's arrest

The arrest of Martha Chizuma by the Malawi Police Service last week has alarmed members of the Catholic’s Episcopal Conference of Malawi (ECM).

Malawi: The arrest of Martha Chizuma by the Malawi Police Service last week has alarmed members of the Catholic’s Episcopal Conference of Malawi (ECM).

The bishops expressed concern in a pastoral statement issued on Monday, December 12th, that the president continues to claim ignorance about who directed police to arrest Chizuma.

The bishops wonder: "what most seriously disturbs the nation is the lack of the State President of the Republic of Malawi on the warrant of arrest for this very important public officer."

It further reads: "Much as we applaud the Government for assuring Malawians that it is on top of the matter, the question that will bother the minds of Malawians remains: Is this not only a cosmetic way of assuring the nation that the government is in control?"

Since then, the bishops have urged the president and his administration to exercise caution and leave a legacy in the fight against corruption.

Chizuma was arrested last Tuesday.

According to police, the arrests were the result of a tsunami triggered by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Steve Kayuni, who railed against the audio in which Chizuma expressed her concerns to an unidentified man.

Chakwera and his ministers all pretended to be unaware of the arrest.

The president has since established an investigation commission to determine the truth behind the arrest.

Meanwhile, a group of people, including civil society, professionals, opposition politicians, and eminent figures, believe the President's inquiry is pointless and a waste of time.

During the swearing-in of members of the commission of inquiry at Kamuzu Palace in Lilongwe on Saturday, Chakwera justified his hope that the inquest will reveal the truth about Martha's arrest.

The ECM is the first religious organisation to comment on the arrest and the importance of the ACB office in the fight against corruption.