Malawi President Mutharika is said to have reversed his earlier order to have the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) premises countrywide closed immediately due to prolonged strike by the workers who are demanding salary increase and other concessions from his government.
The development comes after the Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in the Country such as Centre for Human Rights and Rehabilitation (CHRR) and the Centre for Development of People (CEDEP) vowed to fight Mutharika’s decision, saying its a disaster to APM’s regime.
ACB Director General Lucas Kondowe confirmed of the development in an interview with the Press, saying Mutharika’s decision is based on the meeting he had with the officials from ACB.
Kondowe said Mutharika has ordered the Police officers who were manning ACB premises to leave immediately and allow representative from both sides to discuss and map the way forward on the issue.
On his part, Chief Secretary to the President George Mkondiwa also confirmed of the development, saying the President wanted give dialogue a chance.
ACB staff started the sit-in last on Monday December 8 2014, demanding the government to increase their salaries by 70 percent.
Hours later the government through Treasury offered the ACB staff 10 percent pay hike but it was rejected and the workers called it a mockery.
Speaking in a Press briefing over the Weekend, Minister of Finance, Economic Planning and Development Goodall Gondwe said the government is not ready to increase their salaries as it was feeling the affects of the Cashgate plundering.
