Corruption is evil-Speaker

Hara went on to say that as legislators who represent Malawians and as one of the strategic pillars in the fight against corruption, they will do whatever it takes.

Malawi: Catherine Gotani Hara, the Speaker of the Malawi Parliament and a guest of honour told the general public on November 30, 2022, loudly that corruption is evil and a disease that kills the country's development.

She stated this during the commemoration of the Anti-Corruption Day with the theme: Resetting the Moral Tone of the Nation, which was hosted by the Parliament of Malawi and took place at the Parliament Building.

Hara went on to say that as legislators who represent Malawians and as one of the strategic pillars in the fight against corruption, they will do whatever it takes.

"As members of Parliament, we are affected, and we want to demonstrate our commitment. We will do whatever it takes to fight this battle because we know that the resources that are being stolen affect us in some way,” she elaborated.

Justice Chifundo Kachali, Chairperson of the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC), stated that as Members of Parliament, they must have a lot of courage to hold people accountable, especially those who fall short of their responsibilities.

"If they are not men and women of integrity, they will not have the moral courage to hold others accountable. It is their responsibility to see that the fight against corruption is completed for the benefit of Malawians,” he stated.

In her remarks, Martha Chizuma, Director General of the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), stated that it is her plea that the Malawi Parliament continue to cooperate and coordinate with the bureau in the anti-corruption fight because they play a very important role in legislative, representation, and oversight.

She went on to say that she is pleased that the Speaker of Parliament emphasised the importance of the bureau using legislators to send anti-corruption messages to their constituents so that they have a greater impact.

Peter Dimba, the Chairperson of Parliament's Legal Affairs Committee, expressed his disappointment in the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) Steve Kayuni, claiming that he has refused the consent of some private lawyers hired by ACB to assist them in prosecuting some of the cases.

He said: "It is permissible under the law for the ACB to hire private attorneys. So, as a parliament, as the Legal Affairs Committee, we sent a friend request to show off so that he reconsiders his decision.

Otherwise, the interpretation is that the DPP is frustrating the fight against corruption, and as parliament, we cannot simply stand by and watch. Obviously, we must appear as Malawians' representatives.”