Malawi President Laughs Off US’s Move To Designate Alleged Corrupt Officials

By Joseph Dumbula

Malawi President Lazarus Chakwera has not come to terms with a recent decision by the United of America government to bar four former senior government officials from entry because of their involvement in significant corruption.

Days ago, the USA government announced it had designated the four individuals who are former solicitor general and secretary of Justice Reyneck Matemba, former director of public procurement and disposal of assets John Suzi-Banda, former Malawi Police Service attorney Mwabi Kaluba, and former Inspector General of the Malawi Police Service George Kainja.

The former officials facing charges in Malawi after they were named on a list of more than 80 prominent Malawians accused by the anti-graft body of having corrupt dealings with a British businessman, Zuneth Sattar, whose cases are before the courts.

But Chakwera speaking at a launch of an agriculture program today in Malawi’s capital Lilongwe said he finds the decision subtly funny and that he nearly laughed upon hearing the news.

He said he wonders why the USA government has made the decision when the Malawian justice system is working around the clock to address corruption.

His remarks come just hours after the Malawi government issued a scathing statement in reaction to the US order with a call for respect for judicial independence.

"The government of Malawi wishes to reiterate its policy and position to respect the independence of the courts as the sole determinant of guilt or innocence of any person answering various charges in Malawi courts." the statement reads in part.