ACB harasses Malawi’s former first lady
The Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) and former president Bakili Muluzi drama took another twist Friday night as the graft bursting body failed to seize vehicles at the BCA residence which houses the former president after they had realised that the targeted vehicles are registered in former first lady Dr. Shanil Muluzi’s name.
But even if the vehicles were in the former president’s name, it would have been difficult for the corrupt watchdog to go ahead with the seizure as hundreds of UDF supporters mainly from populous Bangwe Township and vendors from Limbe market rushed to the scene and blocked the gates stopping the ACB officials from entering into the five star residence.
The irate supporters warned the ACB officials that any further attempts to harass the ailing former president would result into uncontrollable blood-shed or civil war.
“What do you want from Atcheya (Muluzi) you know the man is sick and you want to continue squeezing him why? If you think that we’re stupid then you have miscalculated your game,” said an angry heavily built charcoal vendor from Limbe market who wanted to grab the neck of one of the officials but was quickly stopped by his friends and a horde of Muluzi’s heavily armed security guards who were watching the drama from within the distance.
Another shouted: “If you attempt to pass through these gates then you will know that UDF originated from the bush to fight dictatorship and we are ready to shed blood or even die for our leader Dr Bakili Muluzi.”
A possible chaos was neutralised with the arrival of former first lady Shanil who was visibly calm and cooperative. She told the ACB officials that all the vehicles that are parked inside the gates initially belong to her.
This took the ACB officials by surprise as they had thought the fleet of posh vehicles that include, Range Rover, Land Rover Discovery, Lexus Cruiser, Bentley, several Mercedes Benz cars and Nissan Patrol among several others belonged to the former president.
Meanwhile, an unidentified ACB official who was leading the group was quickly seen calling his boss Alex Nampota.
After the phone conversation the official, instructed his men to leave the place and that they should go back to the ACB headquarters where Nampota would tell them what to do next.
Commenting on the development a Blantyre based constitutional lawyer told Nyasa Times that it could have been violation of powers for the ACB to seize vehicles that do not belong to the accused.
“But if they are really serious about victimising Dr. Muluzi’s family then they can go to court and open a case against Muluzi’s wife,” said the lawyer who has been appearing on state television recently selling the ruling DPP agenda especially during the campaign period.
Nyasa Times is yet to get a statement from the Muluzi’s family or his lawyers who were reportedly locked in a meeting discussing the issue.
The actions by ACB come before the pending High Court ruling on July 8 where Justice Edward Twea is expected to deliver a ruling on whether the ACB should go ahead to seize the vehicles and BCA residence as a bond before Muluzi leaves the country for UK where is expected to receive treatment on his slip discs that dislocated during the 2004 campaign that catapulted president Mutharika to power.
Tagged with: ACB, Muluzi, Nampota, Shanil Muluzi, UDF
Old Article more than 4 months. Comment is closed.
