Arrests galore in Malawi: ACB nabs Minister Kambala, Powerful Presidential Aide Chaima Banda and Governing Tonse Alliance Partner Enock Chihana over oil deals

Malawi's graft bursting body, the Anti-Corruption Bureau has today Monday arrested three powerful figures in the governing Tonse Alliance administration.

The three are, Energy Minister Newton Kambala, Presidential Aide on Strategy and Manifesto Implementation Chris Chaima Banda and Tonse Alliance junior partner Alliance For Democracy (Aford) President Enoch Chakufwa Chihana.

In a media statement, ACB publicist Egrita Ndala confirmed the arrests saying the three have been nabbed over allegations that they attempted to meddle in award of fuel supplying contracts by the National Oil Company of Malawi (Nocma).

According to Ndala, Minister Kambala attempted to influence Nocma to award the multi million dollar contracts to Orxy, Finergy and Trifugira fuel companies.

While the two, Hon. Chihana and Chaima Banda, according to ACB are alleged to have aided and abetted Minister Kambala in attempting to influence the award of 40000 metric tones of fuel to Finergy firm.

The arrest of the three members of the ruling Tonse Alliance comes hot on the heels of another prominent arrest few days ago, in President Dr. Lazarus Chakwera's administration of Pastor Martin Thom, who until his arrest, served as Presidential Aide on Special Duties.

ACB sources have confided to this publication that in days to come, there will be arrests of suspects serving in current government as well as those that served in immediate past ruling Democratic Progressive Party administration on allegations of abuse of office and corruption.