EAM's Ethics Commission Raises Concerns Over Commission of Inquiry Report on ACB Director General Arrest

Malawi: As dust refuses to settle on the report by the Commission of Inquiry into the arrest of the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) Director General, the Ethics, Peace, and Justice Commission (EPJC) - the social arm of the Evangelical Association of Malawi - has raised concerns over the report.

In a statement issued on January 5, 2023, the EPJC noted that the report does not clearly establish who knew what, and when, regarding the arrest of the ACB Director General, stating: "The question remains, “who exactly in the Executive arm was aware of the impending arrest?"

The EPJC also questioned the report's focus on the conduct of the ACB Director General surrounding an audio recording, while not addressing who recorded or leaked the audio.

The EPJC also expressed concern over the report's involvement in issues related to the National Identity Card Project and the ACB, which are already being decided in court.

The report was also criticized for its lack of detail on the approval process for the arrest and for not informing the executive branch.

According to the EPJC, the report "brings into question whether the Commission was highjacked by rogue elements in the administration to pervert the course of justice" and "points to some form of deeply entrenched state capture which demands further investigation."

The EPJC has called on the State President to maintain his position on pardoning the ACB Director General but to act on other recommendations in the report with caution.