A high court in Malawi has lifted the government’s suspension of the head of the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) Martha Chizuma, paving the way for her to return to office.
Chizuma’s suspension was announced some days ago by the secretary to the president and the cabinet, Colleen Zamba.
The suspension was premised on a lawsuit against her following a leaked audio in which she allegedly made remarks suggesting that some senior government officials and some judicial officers were obstructing the fight against corruption.
One of the official who felt slighted by the suggestion sued Chizuma for which she was interdicted.
Her suspension was greeted by condemned by civil society groups, the country’s opposition and the country’s umbrella body for lawyers – the Lawyers Association of Malawi.
The lawyers’ association clearly stated that only the President is empowered by law, to hire or fire the head of the anti-corruption agency.
President Lazarus Chakwera is on record as saying he will not sack Chizuma, describing the recording and the circulation of the audio as “corruption fighting back”.
The Malawi Law Society applied for a judicial review which the court granted late on Monday.
