If Malawi laws do not forbid Politicians running for office from accepting corrupt payments or things of high values such as expensive cars like a Hummer then that law needs to be enacted to apply to current office holders including MPs, Senior Government officials, Judges and all in the executive branch.
The revelation that the current Malawi President accepted two cars as a gift while he was actively seeking the office of president should frighten us all.
His disclosures are not enough. We need the names of the benefactors so that we can know who he is beholden to. If this is not corruption, I am not sure what corruption is.
In the US Federal laws have long prohibited corrupt payments or things of value to federal officials, such as payments in the form of “bribes” from favor-seekers in the private sector.
The ethical issues and problems of “gifts” to public officials may arise because of the tacit or subtle influence or feelings of gratitude and appreciation that a public official may feel towards his or her benefactors that might “sway his decisions” and erode the official’s “sense of mission to the public” in favor of loyalty to “his private benefactors and patrons.
President Lazarus Chakwera should reveal his Benefactors so that that we Malawians can have confidence in any decisions that he makes which might have a direct or indirect effect on those benefactors.
Elwin Mandowa is the Founder and Managing Editor of The Maravi Post
Why do you have to mention and compare US Federal laws.. you are so DUMB..so is the US the holy grail of laws..You have a cancer of African inferiority..and to correct your stupidity you said US Federal laws prohibit public officials..Where is the corrollation when Chakwera was at that time not a public official.. Your job as a journalist is to go and investigate who gave the cars and what was the arrangement not writing this stupid article with no FACT CHECK..and not thinking holistically
And this to come from a MANAGING EDITOR..what a shame..a sub standard journalist..you might be the founder but leave the actual work to qualified people who KNOW their stuff
If you are OK not knowing then do not worry about it
If he has to has nothing to hide he needs to reveal who gave him the car.
I agree that Chakwera must explain who gave him the Hummer otherwise those behind the gift will be looking for payback in a form of contracts. And this will yield corruption.