Blantyre, Malawi (PANA) – Although Malawi’s law does not specify that only lawyers should head the country’s Anti-Corruption Bureau, having a legal mind at the corruption-busting body would be ideal, top Malawian legal activist Justin Dzonzi said.
Dzonzi, executive director for Justice Link – a legal rights body, was reacting to President Peter Mutharika’s recent appointment of First Merchant Bank (FMB) General Manager Lucas Kondowe to replace Justice Rezine Mzikamanda at the helm of the ACB.
According to both the Constitution and the ACB Act, no one can fault the appointment of the banker, Dzonzi said. “Being a non-lawyer, the director will be entirely relying on advice of others. This will affect independence of crucial decision-making.”
He, however, conceded that this is not the first time for a non-lawyer to head ACB with accountant Gilton Chiwaula being the first head of the body. He nonetheless said that lessons should have been learnt and come up with best practices.
Mutharika, on his return from the UN General Assembly, revealed that the new ACB chief will be a guru in finances because fighting corruption should involve someone well-versed with the financial world.
Dzonzi also faulted the Mutharika administration’s decision to change the title of the head of the ACB from Director to Director General without amending the Constitution.
“We are dealing with offices, particularly the Director and Deputy Director, which are stipulated by the law and, therefore, are part of the law,” he said. “If they wanted to change the titles they should have changed the law first, otherwise it was not procedural.”
Dzonzi described the anomaly as “nominal and administrative” which can easily be regularised.
The appointment of Kondowe comes amid disaffection among Malawians that the ACB is a toothless bulldog which is often abused by politicians to get even with their opponents.
Photo: UN
