Malawians exaggerating arrest of ACB's Chizuma-Gvt Spox

Ms Chizuma was arrested in the early hours of Tuesday this week after Director of Public Prosecutions Steve Kayuni filed a complaint with the police.

ACB Director Martha Chizuma made her first public appearance since her arrest on Tuesday during this year's Anti-Corruption Day commemorations in Kasungu.

Malawi: Malawians are exaggerating the arrest and subsequent release of Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) Director, Martha Chizuma, according to Minister of Information Gospel Kazako.

Ms Chizuma was arrested in the early hours of Tuesday this week after Director of Public Prosecutions Steve Kayuni filed a complaint with the police.

Dr Kayuni claimed that he was portrayed negatively in a leaked audio from January 2022 involving Ms Chizuma.

However, after a national outcry, the government announced that the DPP had dropped the case and that Ms Chizuma had been released unconditionally.

Kazako stated on the sidelines of International Anti-Corruption Day at Kasungu Stadium that President Lazarus Chakwera and the government were unaware of the arrest and were as shocked as the rest of the country.

“The President is concerned with the whole issue and wants to get to the bottom of it. That is why he has set up the commission of inquiry whose report will inform his decision,” revealed Kazako.

The government spokesperson also stated that not knowing who ordered the arrest does not imply that the government is not in charge.

“The government is in full control of state affairs, this is not a criminal government, it is civilised and therefore believes in the independence of state institutions,” he added.

President Chakwera is in attendance at the Anti-Corruption Day commemorations, as is ACB DG Martha Chizuma, who is making her first public appearance since her arrest and subsequent release on the same day.