Concoction of rage, despair simmering over Chizuma’s police “interview”

MALAWI: Most Malawians are filled with both rage and despair as police summon the head of the country's anti-graft agency, Martha Chizuma, for "a normal investigation interview" at police headquarters in Lilongwe at 9 A.M. Friday in response to a leaked audio of a purported conversation between the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) director-general and an unknown person in January of this year, writes Winston Mwale.

Inspector Harry Namwaza, Deputy National Police Spokesperson, said in a statement released Wednesday night that the Malawi Police Service (MPS) has summoned the Director-General of the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), Ms Martha Chizuma, for “an investigation interview”.

“The summons follows a court order issued by the Mzuzu Senior Resident Magistrate’s Court on April 7, 2022 after an application by Mr Frighton Phompho. The investigation interview takes place Friday, April 22, 2022. The MPS calls for calm as this is a normal investigation interview,” said Namwaza.

However, the development has apparently not gone down well with most citizens, who have openly expressed outrage on social media.

The following are comments picked randomly from Facebook, reacting to the news:

“I always say time is a savage. This [referring to the picture above] was when Lazarus was our own and we were wowed that he will help fight corruption. Today, his Biblical sister Martha is being hounded for fighting corruption. We, graduates of Sunday School know that Martha was Lazarus' sister. Or were they lies?#MuwerengeKawiri#”

“Let's go join Martha and let the corrupt know we mean business.”

“I’m still wondering who is supposed to be questioned for the leaked audio, is it the one who leaked it or the speaker”

“We cannot stand as a nation and watch those who are fighting evil being persecuted!! We give room to the corrupt to be flourishing in Malawi. No please, it SHANT happen under our watch!!”

“I said it the other time angopanga resign it's good for her image. Look now even the bureau has no money to carry out its business efficiently ndiye chaphindu nchani.”

“So, corruption is like reggae nobody can stop it, but we are with u Martha.”

“Trying their best to silence all the voices from the media to the corruption fighters.”

“Criminal investigation anakayambira ojambula.”

The ACB is investigating businessman Zuneth Sattar, who was arrested in the United Kingdom last year by the British anti-corruption agency, the National Crime Agency (NCA), and is accused of paying bribes to politically-exposed people in Malawi in order to influence public officials to corruptly award contracts to his companies.