Malawi Law Society against ‘acting like mindless zealots’ in naming and shaming Cashgate suspsects

Malawi Law Society (MLS)  has backed the decision of Auditor General (AG) Stephen Kamphasa to seek legal advice from the Attorney General before releasing  names and companies named in the forensic audit that established that about K236 billion in public funds could not be reconciliated between 2009 and December 31 2014.

 John Suzi-Banda:  (left) with other lawyers Mandala Mambulasa (C)  and Felisa Kilembe (R)
John Suzi-Banda: (left) with other lawyers Mandala Mambulasa (C) and Felisa Kilembe (R)

MLS president John Suzi-Banda said Malawians will be “acting like mindless zealots” to announce the list of shame before without seeking legal advice.

Kamphasa said there was some“legal implications” on the release of the names hence the decision to consult Attorney General Kalekeni Kaphale for legal opinion.

And the  law body has backed the decision as “perfectly normal” it was important that the Attorney General, as chief legal counsel for government, gives his advice on the possible legal ramifications of publicising the names while investigations were still underway.

“We would be acting like mindless zealots or an angry thoughtless mob seeking instant justice in naming and shaming suspects,” said MLS president as quoted by the local press.

“ What should be of most concern to us should be a solemn promise from the prosecutorial authorities to fervently pursue the suspects and ensure that justice is not only done, but be seen to be done,”  he added.

He however urged the Attorney General to give the legal advice in a transparent manner to clear suspicion.

But in The Nation newspaper, lawyer Justin Dzonzi, observed that making the names public was essentially a choice between “two evils”.

“If we make them public, we risk breaching their right to privacy and in the event that those officers are absolved from any wrong-doing, then as a country we may end up facing defamation charges which may lead to government paying huge compensations,” Dzonzi is quoted saying.

Dzonzi ,  who is also executive director of Justice Link and board chairperson of Malawi Human Rights Commission (MHRC) however, said keeping the information hidden was essentially protecting people who, by their conduct, have risked the wellbeing of Malawi.

“Now, most of these people are politicians who perhaps in 2019 will be going back to their constituents asking them to vote for them.

“If these constituents knew the specific individuals are not trustworthy and if put in power again they are liable to abuse then one would have thought publishing their names would better inform the public so that they make a good decision.”

He also observed that by keeping the names away from Parliament, the AG acted unlawfully because the Public Audit Act requires the National Audit Office to account to Parliament.

“But publishing the names in the newspaper perhaps could be a different story, so we should draw a distinction between those two,” he said.

The audit was conducted by British firm RSM Risk Insurance LLP.

According to the report, the audit found that K83.5 billion of the K236 billion which could not be accounted for was paid to 44 companies from the sample of 50 that the auditors selected to analyse.

The audit also found that billions were lost in overpayment of goods and services, duplicate payments and overpayment on shipping to wrong locations.

Initially, the amount suspected to have not been accounted for was pegged at K577 billion, according to a PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) data analysis released in May 2015.

However, the forensic audit established, through its testing of the system and controls, that the unreconciled funds could be in the region of K236 billion.

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The Patriot
The Patriot
7 years ago

Since when has naming suspects become a legal problem? Is this the first time we have a list of Cashgate suspects here in Malawi?
During Amai JB’s time we knew the list before Lutepo, Senzani , Savala et al were taken to court and why the fuss now?
Name them, and let the whole Malawi shame them…..if they sue we can pay!! No sacred cows!

All I can see is that they are some names which were very vocal when the 24billion kwacha Cashgate list was outed but now the blue corner is dead silent!!!

Makonyola
Makonyola
7 years ago

But John Suzi Banda is a sell out also. He is not e very good Lawyer to say the least and a control freak. Add to that the fact that he doesn’t look Malawian at all his looks are South Sudanese or West African

Nyirenda
Nyirenda
7 years ago
Reply to  Makonyola

Inu ndiye a Malawi enieni? Stop despising your fellow country mate.

john
john
7 years ago

GIVE THE NAMES TO KALUA AND HE WILL SHAME THE CASHGATERS IN PARLIAMENT AND CANT BE TAKEN TO TASK. PARLIAMENT OR MPs ARE IMMUNE TO SUCH CHARGES

ngalamayi
ngalamayi
7 years ago

While I believe in innocence until proven guilty, surely this is worse: fingers are pointed at the innocent because no one knows who is on the list. In most countries, the named would be suspended until their innocence or guilt was proven. That way, the innocent would not be stained with Cashgate and the guilty would be tried fairly and we can hope, quickly. This present situation just breeds distrust of all politicians.

ADE
ADE
7 years ago
Reply to  ngalamayi

The best way is those who have been mentioned to resign, If they have done nothing wrong they will be restored to their positions.

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