Where is ACB, FIU, Malawi Police, Immigration, MRA when public money always gets looted?
The terrific tale with Malawi is that it’s a nation always on the fast lane, pulling a 280 km/hour, cruising fast and dangerous towards where it has always been.
This country always gives an impression of progressing but, let’s face facts, there is hardly anything to that regards. This country, just like its borders, is stuck; its people, wretched—just emptiness almost.
Look what is happening now?
We are busy spewing anger as looting revelations from Peter Mutharika’s regime, like a movie scene, continue to be unveiled and, here and there, a few arrests are being affected.
If you were born yesterday, you would foolhardily believe that President Lazarus Chakwera government is taking a hard stand against corruption through ensuring that anybody who looted public money account for it.
Well, it’s not, really, like that.
Some of us who have been around have seen the movie scene before and, frankly speaking, there is hardly anything to smile about.
In 2006, just after Bingu wa Mutharika broke loose from Bakili Muluzi’s controlled United Democratic Front (UDF), we saw what we are seeing today in full grim.
Revelations of dirty looting of public resources were revealed, here and there arrests were made; but, with days, nothing much chanced.
Just recall how angry, in 2012, we were when Joyce Banda-led government was doing the same things Bingu government did in 2006. Revelations, arrests and, then, zero!
Granted, when you look the current revelations and arrests, do you see, like Morgan Heritage sang, anything to smile about?
The circle, to me, is still as it was: reveal, arrest and, after some days, pile the matters in court as new political wolves take up the mantle to, again, loot just like their predecessors.
Why are we trapped like this? Why are we failing to move beyond where we have always been?
To me, the reason we are stuck is not because of the character of politicians we elect in key public institutions; rather, the lack of resolve and accountability in individuals who leads key governance institutions meant to fight corruption through investigation and prosecution.
Because let’s look around.
Under the same DPP government, Ombudsman Martha Chizumila was steadfast in investigating impunity and she spared no name.
Under the same DPP government, the Judiciary stood up for the rule of law, rejecting bribes, and ensuring that Malawians are served with nothing but justice.
Under the same DPP government, Malawi Defense Force (MDF) executed its duty of protecting Malawians in a professional and classical way.
Or, let me say this: Under the same DPP government, Jane Ansah messed up elections, while Chifundo Kachale put a great election.
If, under the same DPP government, Ombudsman, Judiciary, MDF and Kachale managed to execute their duties professionally according to the law, what stopped other institutions doing the same to stop this continued wanton loot of public resources?
Fighting corruption isn’t just about arresting and prosecuting people—it’s also about detecting practices that necessitates corruption to deter them. Not much of that, unfortunately, happens.
One, therefore, wonders.
Why do we still have the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) if they can’t act professionally to stop this cyclic loot of public resources?
Why do we still have the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) if they can’t use the legal powers within their mandate to stop this continued loot?
Why do we still have the Malawi Revenue Authority (MRA), the Immigration Department, the Malawi Police Service and all these other bodies if they don’t work efficiently together to stop this continued loot of public resources?
Malawians need answers.
We can’t keep on funding institutions that are not doing what they are being funded for. This must stop!
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Investigate also the Top Managers at Foreign Affairs who were busy global trotting ever attending useless meetings to receive allowances. This should end with Tonse Alliance and government employees should have KPIs and not busy traveling across the world.
Kodi muliko abwino ofunila dziko zabwino kuntundako??
Malawians are quick to forget hence these headless leaders don’t act in the best interests of Malawians
Judiciary mukuichemelerayo simukuidziwa bwino. Mwangowona pokhapa pamapeto pa Mutharikapa coz everybody was tired. Ma judge ndi ma magistrate wa ngakuba heavy!!!! Judge wina akupikisana ndi MHC kuchuluka kwa manyumba pa Mzuzu pa.
What a great article! Every Malawian needs to read this!
Mr Fiko, we have promoted you to be ACB director, your Offices will be located to MRA! Your so called thoughts seems to be taking many out of Nyasatimes now adays. Arrest them and charging them this time around is what will happen! But you so called journalists, frustrates the cases by pointing fingers on prosecutors by painting them just as the same way arrested person is! I think this Government must arrest also useless Journalists who just bring your issues out of just being to be known that they are Journalist in this country! Starting with you!
I agree 100%
They were all under STATE CAPTURE !!!!!
That’s true it must stop we watching closely with chakweras government if this stay the way it is now until the end of his term nothing works then he is going to be out someone else should come in but the legistratures have to act and look at restrictions some individuals should apply if found in the wrong side but why Malawi why Malawi we just have heartless people
Mr. Fiko you know the answers to your questions—its the leadership at the top being deadly serious. None of the regimes after 1994 were ever serious about fighting plunder of state resources and hence did not put measures in place to seriously fight the vice! If all the current regime does is arrests and court processes without serious measures to recover state assets converted into personal property (using the Forfeiture law), scrutinize and empower Procurement and Assets Disclosure and Declaration laws not much will come out of even the present efforts however laudable!!!
Its an unfortunate that we have an article that compares previous thieves govt and Tonse alliance govt its unfortunate Mike Fiko. Your article should and prove basi.
The sleeping pills of corruption are so tasty all the so called watchdogs can’t resist. Soon they will fall asleep as mcp and utm pass by with loads of cash.
Why can’t this looting put at a stop?
I like this article Mike Fiko. This is true. It begins like this but how it ends, it amazes me. Let’s wait and see. It will be a big disappointment if history is going to repeat itself. I don’t understand why this looting can never be stopped.
Good article
This is a very stupid article aimed at glorifying MDF and the judiciary.
Well you have got it all wrong my friend. The judiciary is just as corrupt as any arm of government apapa angoshaina coz pipo were tired of DPP. These same judges have presided over very attrocius cases where the culprits were set free because of money.
One so called prominent lawyer used to take all his calamitous cases to Mzuzu to a particular judge who sat on the Cinstitutional case that kicked out Mutharika. That judge has accumulated so much wealth mwinanso Chisale akulenga. That judge only comes second to Malawi Housing Corporation as the one with the most houses available for rent in Mzuzu. Now he is a hero because nobody is looking at judges.
I totally agree with your observations, Mike Fiko. You, however, forgot to mention the Director of Public Prosecutions, Mrs Mary Kachale, as one of those officers who are very professional in discharging their duties. She is one hell of a sharp prosecutor, if you ask me.
Is it true that Mrs Mary Kachale is the wife of MEC chairman Justice Dr Chifundo Kachale? If it’s true, what a fantastic, brilliant and admirable family! 👍
Yes this is because ALL MALAWIANS need to revise what they really stand for. The country Malawi is ours. We need to look after ikt. When you steal from Government you are stealing from yourself. You want to have easy money quickly by stealing your own tax money? How idiotic is that? Malawians need to reflect very very seriously and make sure they know what they are doing! They Lie! we will improve things but they go and steal even more! they go abroad spend the money and come back to stand for positions in government to steal again. If you steal from the government there is no money to improve services for everybody else. But even for yourself it means you don’t have a decent hospital to go to when you are ull! your roads are always going to be substandard! your schools will be deficient aMalawi cannot produce decent graduates it goes on ! WAKE UP MALAWI!. We are in deep trouble. Pleas mature! Every single penny in your pocket should be one you have worked for ! Government is not the quickest way to get rich! NO! Govt.it’s about safeguarding your resources! Take care of Malawi lovingly because it is YOUR COUNTRY! damaging it is just damaging yourself!
Stop lying to Malawians! Stop thinking Government is the way to get rich! stop being lazy and expecting easy money! Don’t borrow more than you can manage! Start being responsible and manage your lives realistically!!!
Mr Chakwera chose someone for office because they are capable of progressing that office! No other reason!!!!
Good article for well meaning Citizens to ponder over.Do we have leaders with integrity in ACB, FIU, MRA, Immigration & Police??? So far its only MDF and Judiciary that have lived to expectations.
Judiciary is rotten too. Even the army. Kodi nkhani zaku army simunamve?
u r talking my brother,why other departments not performing? particularly ACB?
An eye opener. The article of the week.
Please put records straight. We did not conduct a re-run because of any verified rigging but rather because our rotten judiciary wanted to satisfy their regime change agenda. The courts actually confirmed and rulled that there was no evidence of rigging and that the irregularities did not affect the votes counted in May 2019. Surprisingly the same courts rulled that we should have a re-run. Isn’t that surprising to you??
On corruption, yes I agree with you. We are into this mess not because of politicians but rather because of the rot at MRA, Treasury, Reserve Bank, Accountant General, Auditor General, Ministry of Finance, ACB, Public Affairs Committee, Churches, Police, Judiciary, Immigration, Amwenye, etc etc. Also as long as we shall continue using the IFMIS and the Account Number 1, this country shall not develop because these systems encourage thieving. Bingu indeed fought hard against corruption but eventually stopped because his life was directly threatened by fraudsters and he lamented that the battle against corruption was too huge for the president alone. So, oversight institutions are the ones to blame and not the president or the rulling party alone. But Chakwera’s start is the most horrible of all presidents we have had so far. This pastor is too weak. He thinks arresting people is the solution instead of focusing on preventive measures to stop corruption before it happens. Lero abusa ndiawo ayamba kale kugawa ma K500,000.00 kwa ma MPs for doing nothing. Shame to this learner one-term judicial-coup president Chakwera.
Yes sir/madam you have nailed it. Just to add I consider the problem with these institutions to be professionalism and discipline. The problem in malawian culture is that of appeasement and dependency. Anyone dependent of another person is bound to be trapped in appeasement. They r not prepared to challenge wrong doing. Their life depends of whoever provides them with survival. This has an impact on discipline and professionalism. Eliminate the need for these factors to play into each other we have a truly public service that will serve the interests of the people and country. There is need for an independent institution for governance education to be set up a to help educate future generation. I think chakwera provides the leadership and direction and integrity whilst chilima has the will and muscle to see through a radical change and push through a new direction. Am excited
Most of these institutions are poorly funded and equivalent to non existent e.g National Audit Office. Central audit office, ACB, FIU. These are to receive enough funding and independence. Ref countries like Norway
Malawi worse to be funded; it was a syndicate others can deny the truth. On govt. money courts weak.All property must be grabbed by govt .
Mike, I will answer you with three simple words why ACB, FIU, MRA ad nauseam, have not taken any action after all the blatant looting, daylight theft and grave robbery that have taken place: “the appointing authority”! You can then fill the blank spaces…..! Get rid of the powers that are vested in the President to appoint heads of institutions and you’ve gotten rid of probably 90% of the malaise!! My thoughts, but, I may be wrong! And, Oh, by the way, great article!
Look closer Maikolo, critically examine the different situations and you’ll find that you don’t have to write a whole essay to find answers to your question in the title.
As for me am giving President Chakwera the last chance to see if he can turn things around. Am hoping he will otherwise we are stuck in the dark ages
Can someone tell us where the list of missing cars has gone? They were malicious allegations. Most of the cases being talked and put on social media including the arrests are fictitious and a witch-hunt. They are meant to fool people to forget asking the Tonse alliance about its promises but also tarnish the image of DPP.
Malawii, lets stop joking. Stealing starts with a messenger in the public service, and grows as you go up the ladder. MRA, POLICE and infact every govt dept stealing is a norm and is glorified. Most of the cars public servants drive, clothes they wear, houses they sleep in, women they sleep with are mostly supported by stolen money. Fighting stealing is no easy task
the reverend who was bloke only a few days ago was able to splash MK35m just like that. The more things change the more they remain the same. One Indian was boasting at the mosque that he went to see Chakwera and delivered MK500m as gift and he said several well connected indians have already donated their parcels and Chakwera is now mad with money which is coming like rain drops from all corners of Malawi. They said Sidk Mia is a perfect link if you want to see Chakwera and deliver your gift parcel
Mike Fiko, I like your writing. Indeed its true that agencies that are not performing should therefore be closed. All these agencies were put in place for the same reason of detecting, arresting, prosecuting and imprisoning those that loot. But why did not they do while DPP was in government that is a million dollar question that you have asked. Is it because their masters condoned the behavior or because their master was part of the cartel? The later seems a perfect fit because you send a thief to catch a thief. I beg to differ this time that we will see arrests and prosecutions and imprisonments of these looters as this has been too much amangwetu. Zinazi zanyanya mpaka 1.2 million bags a cement munthu mmodzi pilizi chonde? Arrest and send them to jail after prosecuting them. That’s my parting shot. It a different ball game altogether!!
You know exactly why those institutions operated dismally. Because the tone at the top was compromised. A woman who used to head FIU was fantastic. What happened to her? Mutharika would not renew her contract because she was following the foot paths of the kleptomaniacs. Kumpaundi (I don’t know if I got the name correctly), the former Auditor General was fantastic. When it was time to renew his contract, Mutharika’s Government balked. Why, he referred many files to the ACB. The list goes on and on. Mutharika’s Government was rotten to the core. He put bafoons into top positions so his cronies could bulldoze any dubious business. A law that was passed in 2016, Access to Information Act, was left for the gutters. They did not like the fact that Malawians will be accorded the power to swoop into the dirty work these people have been involved in. What does this surmount to, the tone at the top is important. When the head is rotten, everything is rotten. Those offices you cited as doing fantastic work did not report to Mutharika. Their jobs weren’t dependent on him.
The story does not help us. Don’t you know DPP captured all governance institutions and you clearly saw how they wanted to do the same with the Judiciary – first bribery and second attempting to dismiss the Chief Justice. Why ask questions whose answers are obvious? What did you as a citizen do? We needed whistle blower and you could be one of them.
I am smiling……..at the pile of money…..I wish it were mine.
well said, we have shit of a country that chooses how to discharge their work, Malawi is bleeding because of such stupid institutionalised poor governance and its disgusting because our education system has not lived up to its billing on average, we study to pass an exam honestly!!!