President Chakwera is the head of State and also head of the Government of the Constitutional Republic of Malawi. In other words, he is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of this country. He is mandated by our constitution to appoint people into public positions to assist him to lead and manage this country.
His appointees report to him such that any mismanagement or wrongdoing, President Chakwera cannot run away from any responsibility and accountability of any kind.
As Commander in Chief of the Malawi Police Service, there is no way Inspector General of Police, Merlyn Yotamu, can effect a night arrest of the Anti Corruption Bureau Director General, Ms. Martha Chizuma, without the knowledge of President Chakwera. Again, Inspector Yotamu can’t just issue instructions to arrest Chizuma without an endorsement of the Minister of Homeland security, Mrs. Jean Msendeza.
In principle, President Chakwera, Inspector General Yotamu, Minister Sendeza and Director of Public Prosecutions, Dr. Steven Kayuni might have conspired to arrest Ms. Martha Chizuma. Now they are backtracking from this miscalculated move by feigning ignorance of the same. Malawians cannot just be fooled like that.
Issues of national security are of paramount importance. If the top gurus who are entrusted with our national security are feigning ignorance of early morning arrests of our public officers, then we are all vulnerable. It is a pathetic situation in that the light has the become the source of darkness. We are on total abyss of darkness.
If President Chakwera was not aware of the arrest of Martha Chizuma, he would have immediately fired the Inspector General of Police Yotamu, Minister of Homeland security Sendeza, and the aggrieved party who abused his office to pounce on Martha Chizuma, Dr. Steven Kayuni. These are matters of security and you don’t compromise such issues. Are we safe?
I usually analyse issues from various perspectives. Psychologically, it was a torture for Martha Chizuma to be arrested in the wee hours of 5th December in long panties and later ferried to Namitete Police Station about 48 kilometres from the heart of Lilongwe City. Those who inflicted such psychological and physical torture on her must be brought to book. This is where commission of inquiry is needed.
From managerial and political point of view, Chakwera’s administration has been found wanting and incompetent. It is like a house that is in total disarray. No team spirit to fight corruption. There is totally no coordination of any kind to crack down this evil. You can’t just arrest the ACB Director on petty issues or misdemeanors like gossiping, libel or Kayuni’s character assassination.
Such civil and personal matters can easily be resolved by following conflict resolution techniques including negotiations, arbitration and litigation. Abusing one’s office to effect early morning arrests on such petty issues is totally uncalled for.
The communication on this issue from Minister of Information, Mr. Gospel Kazako, is another pandemonium. He is part of the Executive arm of government, cabinet, accusing in public the other institutions of the executive vis a vis director of public prosecutions, the police and Minister of Homeland security. Why can’t they put their house in order? This clueless Government is just wasting tax payer’s money.
In conclusion, we demand Chakwera’s Government to be honest and transparent. President Chakwera must learn to take responsibility and act accordingly. Malawians cannot be taken for granted by being fooled that the president as commander in chief of Malawi Police Service was not aware of Chizuma’s arrests.
Without firing the top responsible officers in this fracas, Malawians are of the view that the recently instituted commission of inquiry is there as a cover up to fool innocent Malawians further.
Feedback to: rdzida@gmx.com
Disclaimer: The views expressed in the article are those of the author not necessarily of The Maravi Post or Editor
