ACB boss gets emotional at presser: ‘I don’t fear for my job’
Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) director general, Reyneck Matemba, on Tuesday went emotional, and flat-outly challenged he would not be making known names of suspects who allegedly attempted to bribe High Court judges presiding over the presidential election nullification petition, insisting it was against the law.
Matemba, a practicing lawyer and a career public servant, told a jam-packed news conference that there was “no way” he was going to go against the law because someone “wanted it his or her way on social media.”
According to Matemba, it would be illegal “to mention their names before the investigations were through and a warrant of arrest was issued.”
He dared media practitioners—and the public at large—to seek legal advice from any lawyer if what he was saying was untrue.
Matemba also said that he was not afraid of President Peter Mutharika and the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) following widespread social media reports that indicated that he was the President’s “puppet.”
Said Matemba: “I am not intimidated. I don’t fear for my job. In fact, I can’t lose a job. I can only be redeployed. As a matter of fact, for the record, I was not appointed by [President Peter] Mutharika. I was appointed by [former] President Joyce Banda [to be deputy ACB boss].
“And, after my appointment I was approved by PAC [Public Appointments Committee]. The chairperson then was Louis Belekanyama [of Malawi Congress Party], and there were also other members of the opposition. So, what I am doing is not about a party, it is the law.”
The ACB chief also confessed that they had not yet received their government share of their funding but said there was a donor who was willing to help them.
“Get me right here. We haven’t received our January funding—like all other government ministries, departments and agencies,” said Matemba.
During the presser, Matemba also disclosed that he is not obliged to meet the President on the issue, saying the law only provides that he submit reports to the head of state, the cabinet, the ministry of Justice and Parliament.
Social media platforms have been awash that the suspects are a firebrand politician and a business tycoon.
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Who said a suspect is a convict? when people are suspected they are even put under premand, are you sure suspects are not mentioned by names? are you sure you can press brief and not mention the names just because you are not funded?
CRAP! CRAP INDEED
Dude, this job needs a level-headed individual, you can’t get emotional with what is being posted on Social Media! what are you doing on social media anyway, you need to be working 24/7 to figure out this scandal!!
Malawians don’t care about what school you went to, who appointed you, or what your plans for the future are, all We care about is the NOW, what are you doing about this crime that had rocked the nation, which may also make or break your career
The sad part is even this (the decision not to out the Supreme Court Judge’s name and his accomplices) is not your decision!! It clue-less Mutharika’s decision!!!! How can anybody respect you for decisions that are not yours?????!!!!!!
What does ‘presser’ mean, and what is ‘flat-outly’? We don’t understand this reporters English.
I am with Achiswe
How swiftly you acted on bwaila hospital saga and primary teacher who was still getting her salary after leaving the civil service. There names were everywhere even before investigations were concluded.
Koma!!!!
Tomorrow is greater than today…take care…ur father did well at MANEB..,Imitate his good reputation by serving malawi with GOD fearing attitudes.Ukumuwona muzako ANSAH akusowa mtendere and akuwonda?Ndiwe mwana ndipo dziko limakudalira utsaziwonongere tsogolo…unetsa chilungamo motsaopa
Mr Matemba, we don’t care whether you were appointed by former president or not, what we know you report to the current president and you are so much afraid of him and his party members. We have to let you know this. You can boast about anything but at the end of it all you have failed the nation. We want ACB that serve people without favour but the law. People have been arrested at high speed but when it your boss’s friends you tell about law. Chief Justice is the leader in law in the country not the useless… Read more »
Which school did you attend? I feel pity for wasting fees on an idiot like you..
Its you who is useless.
“The suspects are Tambwali and Kathyali” is not the same as “The culprits are Tambwali and Kathyali”. The ACB boss can, therefore, reveal who the suspects are. This is acceptable in law. He just has cold feet regardless how he was appointed to the high post of ACB
Do not mislead people. You were appointed Director by Peter. You were appointed Deputy by Joyce. The two contracts are different……. Mbuzi ya Lawyer