Financial woes affect Malawi graft busting body’s cashgate probe

Graft busting body, the Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) says it is failing to conclude investigations on some cashgate cases because the bureau has been hit hard by financial problems.

Spokesperson for the bureau Egritta Ndala said investigations of cases need a lot of money.

“Lack of money has indeed affected us, especially investigations of cashgate cases. Investigations are very expensive because we need money for fuel and other logistics to enable our officers go to the field,” she said.

Parliament drastically reduced the budget of ACB during the mid year budget review, a move that attracted criticisms from the opposition benches who accused the government of disregard to the rule of law.

ACB has so far prosecuted 15 cashgate cases.

“That is why we say it is better to prevent corruption than prosecute a corruption case. It is expensive to investigate and prosecute a corruption case,” said Ndala.

Opposition leaders and civil rights activists have asked the president to trim his appointment powers of the director and deputy director of ACB to make the bureau independent but Mutharika has shot down the suggestions.