Malawi President warns corrupt Cabinet ministers: Chazama sworn-in to replace fired Kaliati

President Peter Mutharika has fired warning shots to corrupt cabinet mnisters, telling them he would never shield them.

His warning comes at a time the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) is accused of failing to prosecute George Chaponda, the former powerful Agriculture minister who is said to be connected to a maize scam the ‘maizegate’.

Speaking Tuesday in Lilongwe during the swearing in ceremony of the new minister of Civic Education, Culture and Community Development Cecelia Chazama, Mutharika acknowledged his government is accused of high level corruption.

“I would not hesitate to fire any corrupt cabinet minister,” he said.

He therefore told Chazama  – who replaced fired Patricia Kaliati – to serve the people without any trace of corruption but with respect.

“I would like to urge you to protect public resources and foster transparency and accountability. I appeal to you to desist from engaging in corrupt activities. As I have said many times, corruption is a menace in society and deprives the Government of the limited resources that are available for development programmes.

“The long arm of the law will take its course where one is found to be in conflict with the law. This is important in order to safeguard Government’s integrity and sustain the trust that Malawians have bestowed upon the Government,” said Mutharika.

Mutharika has resisted calls to fire seven cabinet ministers named in K294 billion during the Bingu administration, saying there was no evidence.

The President fired Chaponda after pressure from some sections of society.

Chaponda still gets immunity from arrest and prosecution.