Govt, ACB under fire for failure to recognise Njauju on anti-corruption day

Government has come under severe criticism for its failure to recognise slain Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) director of corporate affairs Issa Njauju.

Timothy Mtambo, human rights activist and executive director of Centre for Human Rights and Rehabilitation (CHRR) said it was a great mistake for President Peter Mutharika, the ACB director and other speakers to fail to recognise a person who was the third in command at the graft busting body yet Njauju is believed to have been killed because of his work at ACB.

“Not even a minute of silence, this was shameful,” said Mtambo.

It is reported that top government officials ordered that Njauju death should not be mentioned, claiming the issue has been highly politicised but Minister of Justice Samuel Tembenu has refuted this, saying Njauju’s case is under investigation.

Police have since arrested two people in connection with his death in July including a police officer.

But Mtambo said the failure by Mutharika and other officials to highlight his death shows the government is not serious in bringing Njauju killers to book.

Political scientist at Chancellor College Mustafa Hussein said the government’s successful order not to mention Njauju on the day clearly shows that the government interferes with ACB activities.

“If the government continues to interfere in ACB activities then the public sector reform programme is meaningless.

“This shows the ACB does not fully enjoy independence, it is influenced by other powerful actors. Njauju was a very important person at ACB who occupied a very important position therefore it was indeed a surprise that a minute of silence was not oserved in his honor,” said Hussein.

The body of Njauju was found near presidential villas just metres away from the gates of Kamuzu Palace.