Kenani let loose on Malawi anti-graft boss, calls Kondowe ‘idiot’

Geneva-based social-economic commentator Stanley Kenani has let loose on Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) director Lucas Kondowe in a rant on social media, calling him “idiot.”

Kenani, a writer of high repute, wrote on Facebook: “The idiot at the Anti-Corruption Bureau has been left with egg all over his face. The court has rejected ACB’s application to extend the Malawi Energy Regulatory Authority’s restriction notice.”

He was commenting on a story Nyasa Times published  that the Lilongwe Magistrate Court has refused ACB application to renew restriction notice, stopping the K6.8 billion contract to Terrastone Limited to construct a Malawi Energy Regulatory Authority (Mera) office complex.

In April ACB director Lucas Kondowe issued a restriction notice, stopping the contractor and Mera from proceeding with the construction works, forcing Mera to award the contract to Sogecoa.

ACB argued that they had received a complaint that Mera chief executive officer Raphael Kamoto had “unilaterally awarded the contract” and asked for all relevant documents for the procurement.

After the expiry of the restriction notice,  ACB in its quest to put the project ‘in neutral gear’ applied to Chief Resident Magistrate’s Court to seek an extension of the restriction notice to allow themselves more time to interview  officials at Office of the Director of Public Procurement and Internal Procurement Committee.

ACB asked the court to extend the Restriction Notice for another 90 days on Terrastone and for Mera not to continue with the construction of the office complex.

But Principal resident magistrate Patrick Chilunga Chirwa ruled on Friday against ACB.

“With all due respect they [ACB] have not shown to the court why they could not do that within the initial three months of the notice,” said Magistrate Chirwa.

“To just assert that they need more time without being accountable for the statutory time limit already provided is not enough.

“There is no reasonable ground or cause on which this court would base a renewal of the restriction notice,” the Magistrate said.

He then ruled: “The court has no option but to dismiss application [by ACB].”

In his “idiot” post, Kenani attracted comments from other Facebook users who weighed in to criticise Kondowe.

Profigo Xihevi Solus  wrote: “ACB ought to have a strong character to lead it. Someone of integrity and with ethical values”

While Kenani did not mention Kondowe by name but Willy Kanyika  commented to link the ‘idiot’ to   Kondowe

And Gerald Chavez Kampanikiza commented: “The idiot has been exposed.”

Steven Chipala, added to say the “Village Idiot” while Eddie Manda  stated “educated idiot…”

The comments come after many people bemoan the slowdown in ACB prosecutions since the President appointed L Kondowe as Director General in October 2014.

There have been concerns of “diminishing zeal” for fraud prosecutions, which have severely dented the country’s reputation and cost Malawi hundreds of millions of dollars in budget support funds.

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