"Donor nations have to respect the country's sovereignty"- Mzuzu-based Civil Society Network

Malawi: A network of civil society organizations in Malawi is calling on donor nations to respect the country's sovereignty and offer suggestions and guidance in a diplomatic manner, writes Tionge Hara.

The Mzuzu-based Civil Society Network made the call after government partners were accused of setting targets and conditions for their support that included gaging or forcing groups to act in a certain way.

Acting chairperson Mervin Nxumayo advised President Lazarus Chakwera to follow rules governing the removal of the Anti-Corruption Bureau Director General, Martha Chizuma, and to arrange for a new director general.

Nxumayo said Chizuma's return to the Anti-Corruption Bureau wouldn't be productive, but instead would be full of vengeance and costly to taxpayers.

Earlier this week, the U.S. Embassy issued a statement condemning the Attorney General's attempt to vacate a court order, which it described as the result of two months of harassment by government officials against the Anti-Corruption Bureau's Director General.

The statement read, in part, "As a democratic partner, the U.S. Embassy looks to the Government of Malawi to actively pursue the fight against corruption and not to wage a campaign of intimidation against Anti-Corruption champions."

The U.S. Embassy also stated that the step taken seeks to reinstate the interdiction of the Anti-Corruption Bureau's Director General by the Secretary to the President and Cabinet.

Civil society organizations present at the press conference included the Christian Justice Network, the Young Politicians Union, and the Young Human Rights Network.

In a separate development, a high court judge on Wednesday threw out an application by the Attorney General to stop a judicial review granted to the Malawi Law Society over the interdiction of Chizuma for alleged misconduct as a public officer.

Meanwhile, the government has indicated that it will take the case further with the Supreme Court of Appeal.