LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-Fresh claims emerging from within the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) suggest that Acting Director General Gabriel Chembezi is facing accusations of unfairly targeting senior investigations officer Robert Mkandawire following the bureau’s failed attempt to arrest former Finance Minister and Leader of Opposition in Parliament, Simplex Chithyola Banda.
Mkandawire was this week interdicted over alleged negligence linked to the May 8 operation.
But insiders familiar with the events say the senior investigator merely executed instructions from top management and is now being blamed for a mission that was already flawed from the beginning.
According to sources, the arrest warrant for Chithyola Banda only arrived around 3:26 PM on Friday, raising concerns among officers over whether such a sensitive operation could legally and practically be carried out late in the evening.
Sources say Mkandawire sought guidance from ACB leadership through Director of Legal Services Mr. Khunga before proceeding.
“He requested direction from management and was authorised to continue around 4 PM. He did not make the decision alone,” said one insider.
However, sources describe the operation itself as chaotic and poorly coordinated.
The officers assigned to carry out the arrest allegedly had no police escort or security backup despite dealing with one of the country’s top opposition figures in a politically tense environment.
“You cannot send officers into that kind of situation without proper security and later turn around and blame them,” said another source.
According to officials familiar with the incident, the team found Chithyola Banda at his residence surrounded by supporters, politicians and private security personnel.
The opposition leader reportedly questioned the timing of the arrest, calling it politically motivated, before contacting his lawyer, George Kadzipatike.
Sources say officers temporarily stepped aside to allow legal consultations, but when they attempted to proceed, Chithyola Banda had allegedly vanished while bouncers and supporters blocked access to parts of the property.
The atmosphere reportedly turned hostile, with some individuals allegedly threatening the officers and making references to slain ACB officer Issa Njaunju, who was murdered while investigating corruption cases.
“At that point the officers feared for their safety,” said one source. “They requested police reinforcement because the environment had become dangerous.”
Police reportedly arrived around 9 PM, mainly to secure the safety of the stranded officers rather than assist with the arrest itself.
Despite the deteriorating situation, sources claim Chembezi instructed Mkandawire and his team to remain stationed at the residence for several more hours waiting for the suspect to reappear.
“They kept updating headquarters while exhausted, hungry and stranded there late into the night,” another insider said.
The team was only told to leave around 11 PM after Chithyola Banda failed to return.
Sources have also raised questions over another alleged instruction issued the following morning.
According to insiders, Chembezi allegedly directed Mkandawire to draft a press statement anticipating the arrest of Chithyola Banda even though no arrest had actually taken place.
“That is not normal procedure,” claimed one source. “You do not prepare statements announcing an arrest before a suspect is in custody.”
Insiders further allege that tensions between Chembezi and Mkandawire predate the failed operation.
Several sources claim Chembezi had long wanted Mkandawire removed from the bureau and had allegedly communicated that position privately to individuals within professional circles.
“This issue did not start with the Chithyola operation,” said one insider. “The failed arrest simply became the perfect opportunity.”
The interdiction has now triggered growing criticism inside the bureau, with some officers accusing senior management of sacrificing junior officers to shield itself from embarrassment over the collapse of the high-profile operation.
“They failed to plan properly, failed to provide security and failed to support the officers on the ground,” another source alleged. “Now someone has to carry the blame.”
Sources also revealed that Mkandawire was allegedly assaulted while on duty two years ago, but the bureau has still not compensated or adequately supported him following the incident.
“This is somebody who has risked his life serving the institution,” said one insider. “Instead of standing by him, they are now isolating him.”
Meanwhile, the attempted arrest has since been overtaken by legal developments after Chithyola Banda obtained a court injunction blocking the execution of the warrant.
Efforts to obtain comments from Chembezi and Mkandawire proved unsuccessful by press time.
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