Malawi president Chakwera stops delegating duties to VP over alleged graft

Malawian President Lazarus Chakwera has ceased to delegate duties to his deputy Saulos Chilima over graft allegations.

Chakwera made the announcement on Tuesday as he moved to tackle another monumental corruption scandal involving members of his cabinet.

Chilima is alleged to have received some kickback money from a business known as Zuneth Sattar in order to secure government contracts.

This comes after Chakwera disbanded his entire cabinet following the involvement of 3 ministers in corruption scandals.

Chakwera said he arrived at the decision to cease delegating duties to Chilima after he received a report from the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on investigations that linked his deputy to Sattar’s activities.

Since Malawian Constitution does not provide for the suspension of a vice-president or his removal by the president, Chakwera was only left with one option which was to cease delegating duties to him.

“As such, the best I can do for now, which is what I have decided to do, is to withhold from his office any delegated duties while waiting for the bureau to substantiate its allegations against him and to make known its course of action in relation to such,” Chakwera said.

However, the bureau did not provide any information regarding what Chilima received from Sattar or what role he played in the scandal and he criticised the report as substandard.

Chakwera opined Malawians deserved better especially on matters so serious and sensitive.

“On a matter as serious and sensitive as this, Malawians deserve better,” Chakwera said.

The Malawian head of state also dismissed the Inspector-General of Malawian police George Kainja and the Chief of Staff for state residences Prince Kapondamgaga.

Chakwera also suspended the chairperson of the Public Procurement and Disposal of Assets Authority John Suzi.