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The Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) is investigating allegations that former president Bakili Muluzi gave out money to court clerks at Blantyre Magistrate’s Court last month, Acting Director Tumalisye Ndovie confirmed in an interview Thursday.
“We received a report on the issue and we have started primary inquiry,” said Ndovie. “We want to establish what happened and if true, why the money was given.”
Ndovie said both Muluzi and recipients would be questioned.
Muluzi was at the court with his lawyer Ralph Kasambara for a case in which he is accusing DPP Director of Women for the South Alefa Wenzulo, Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) and Television Malawi (TVM) for defamation.
The former president is accusing Wenzulo of calling him a satanist who was terrorising residents of Ndirande Township in Blantyre at President Bingu wa Mutharika’s public rally in Thyolo. MBC and TVM are dragged into the case for airing the alleged defamatory remarks.
People around Goliyo in Ndirande and students of a nearby Blantyre Secondary School have been attacked while asleep in the night and some of them have ended up in the intensive care unit at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital in Blantyre with serious injuries. The mysterious attacker has been described as a scantly dressed man. The police have mounted a hunt but some traditional doctors claim the attacker is a satanist who can only be caught by charms.
A source at the court said there was a stampede when former president gave out K10,000 for people to share.
“This did not please magistrates and some senior clerks who thought that the act was tantamount to corruption,” said the source.
Court clerk Mike Chome admitted having received part of the money.
“He said he gave the money so that we should buy Fanta,” said Chome in an interview on Thursday. He said that the money was shared among many people.
Muluzi’s personal assistant Timpuza Mvula said he would not comment on the issue but last week he described Muluzi as being generous to many people.
“He could find people even in the grocery and buy them goods. He has been like that for a long time,” said Mvula.
Registrar of the High Court and Supreme Court of Appeal Sylvester Kalembera said he would not comment on the issue as that would jeopardise the investigations.
“When the issue is with ACB, we do not comment until their investigations are over. We do that to avoid jeopardising investigations,” said Kalembera.
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