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| National |
| ACB to probe Kazembe, Maloya |
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by
Joseph Langa, 26 November 2004
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11:32:38
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Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) will investigate revelations that Malawi’s ambassador in Taiwan Thengo Maloya and his predecessor Eunice Kazembe gave government scholarships to their children and relatives.
ACB director Gustav Kaliwo said in an interview on Thursday if what Nation Online published was accurate “there is something seriously very wrong and needs to be investigated because that is corruption under the new (Corrupt Practices) Act”.
Kazembe confirmed to the paper recently that she got scholarships from the Republic of China, three of which were given to her close relations while two others were taken by Maloya’s children.
Kaliwo said it is corruption for a public officer to use his or her position for his or her personal advantage or the advantage of another person under the new corruption laws.
Section 25B (1) of the new Act reads: “Any public officer who uses, misuses or abuses his public office, or his position, status, or authority as a public officer, for his personal advantage or for the advantage of another person or to obtain, directly or indirectly, for himself or for another person, any advantage, wealth, property, profit or business interest shall be guilty of an offence.”
But Kaliwo, who said he was out of the country when the issue was published, said he will check with his office if anything was done on the matter. He added that he will find out all the facts of the matter before deciding whether to institute a formal investigation.
Secretary for human resource and development Sam Madula said although the scholarships did not pass through his office as is required, what happened was very wrong because procedure was not followed.
Madula said he discussed the matter with the Chief Secretary for the Civil Service Charles Matabwa who also agreed that the procedure was not followed and has written the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that “such things should never be allowed to happen”.
“If it is allowed to happen like that some people will be disadvantaged. Proper procedures are supposed to be followed so that people should compete on merit,” he said.
Madula said procedurally all scholarships are supposed to pass through his office which gives them to relevant ministries or advertise to the public if they are not for the civil servants only.
“Our interest is to know how many people have been trained in what and where,” Madula said.
Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet Bright Msaka did not have a ready answer when contacted on Thursday on what action government will take on the matter.
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