Tag Archives: Frank Mbeta

corruption, Malawi

Leaked Parley report hangs AG Mbeta, ACB chief Chembezi, others in Amaryllis Hotel purchase probe

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LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-The leaked Public Appointments Committee of Parliament (PAC) has faulted country’s Head of Bar, Attorney General Frank Mbeta for allowing the Board to proceed with the sale of Amaryllis hotel against the professional advice from the Reserve Bank of Malawi and others.

According to the leaked report on bullet 4.7.2 which is under Condition Advice and Its Practice Affect, PAC says AG framed his advice as conditional, indicating that the Board could proceed only after being satisfied. It has however found that in practical terms, his advice was interpreted and relied upon a clearance to proceed.

The use of directive language – suggesting that the Board “should proceed” upon satisfying the stated condition- created an impression that the legal barriers to the transaction had been resolved.

With this type of advice, PAC is of the view that Frank Farouk Mbeta operated not as a cautionary guide but as a facilitating endorsement of the transaction.

PAC recommended that in relation to the investigation and advisory processes be clearly established and be subjected to appropriate extensive investigation.

“Where any gaps in accountability or oversight are identified appropriate measures be taken to ensure that all individuals involved like the rest are subjected to equal and transparent scrutiny,” the report further says

ON ACB Boss, Gabriel Chembezi

The Committee recommended that Counsel Gabriel Chembezi be temporarily suspended as Acting Director of ACB and that an independent inquiry be instituted into his conduct, particularly regarding his presence at a meeting in which he sale agreement was discussed in a consultative capacity and his subsequent role in overseeing or influencing investigation into the same transaction.

ON Counsel Chizaso Nyirongo

The Committee recommended that he be subjected to a comprehensive investigation to determine whether his conduct was both at the OPC and Cabinet and subsequent as Chairperson of the Board of Trustees, constituted abuse of office, conflict of interest or breach of fiduciary duty.

PAC has since asked the current OPC to examine his role in advancing the transaction at OPC’s Cleveland later presiding over its approval, his influence in appointing key officers and engagement of advisors and the decision to proceed with transaction notwithstanding regulatory directives.

The President should act on all public officers including the Acting Director General and the Attorney General, for independent further investigations regarding their role and conduct in the whole matter.

But PAC chairperson Steven Malondera on Wednesday told Parliament that the inquiry will be extended to a month to include other key individuals including former Secretary to the President and Cabinet (SPC) Colleen Zamba and Amaryllis Hotel owners.

Opinion, Politics

Are some DPP gurus really more powerful than Mutharika himself?

Rick Dzida

Since taking office, President Peter Arthur Mutharika (APM) has baffled numerous citizens of Malawi with his controversial decisions. Thus, this piece aims to examine the factors that truly shape APM’s decision-making.

For starters, it is evident that certain DPP leaders, like Alfred Gangata, provided financial support to the party in order to aid APM in attaining power. This implies that these individuals hold considerable sway over the party’s choices and principles.

Obviously, this kind of financial backing creates a power dynamic where those who contribute heavily to a party’s campaign are expected to have a starker influential say in its governance.

Furthermore, APM’s appeasement policy of appointing individuals with corruption charges into public office indicates a potential compromise in governance and ethics.

Nevertheless, this appeasement policy is seen as a strategy to maintain loyalty within the party, as those appointed have either previously supported the party’s agenda or contributed to its success.

Regrettably, the concept of “lhomwenism” highlights how regional affiliations impact political power within the party.

It must be appreciated that DPP has been led by Lhomwe brothers , Bingu and Peter Mutharika since the party’s inception.

As a result, individuals from the Lhomwe belt are perceived to have more influence as they are being appointed into top notch government positions.

If this trend persists, it has the potential of culminating into feelings of marginalization among other groups, potentially affecting party unity and governance.

With APM’s last term approaching, there is speculation about who might succeed him. The lack of a clear succession plan in the DPP constitution leads to internal power struggles, especially among influential party members.

This is why some DPP figures are positioning themselves as potential successors to APM. No wonder, this has created factions within the party, as different individuals vie for influence and support.

Regrettably, despite being the current Vice President, Jane Ansah has been excluded from discussions about who will succeed APM at the party level.

However, according to the Malawi Constitution, Ansah is still considered a possible replacement in case of any unforeseen circumstances.

It is not therefore perplexing that the potential successor to APM will mostly likely come from the Lhomwe belt.

Moreover, the fact that some DPP gurus are wealthier than the party itself suggests a significant concentration of power and resources among a few individuals.

This obviously leads to a situation where the interests of these wealthy individuals take precedence over either the broader goals of the party or the needs of the electorate.

Additionally, renowned lawyer Alexious Kamangila’s statement about the involvement of DPP members, such as Alfred Gangata, Joseph Mwanaamveka, Frank Mbeta, and others in the Amaryllis hotel scam implies that there are significant accusations of corruption within the party.

Therefore, the hesitation of APM to take swift action against these individuals is a result of either political motives or a wish to preserve party cohesion.

Truth be told, the decision not to suspend these party members hinders thorough investigations into the alleged fraud, raising concerns about accountability and governance within the DPP.

Recently, DPP supporters have expressed great joy and excitement over the Attorney General, Frank Mbeta’s, skillful handling of questions during his appearance before the Parliamentary Public Appointment Committee (PAC).

However, it should be emphasized that Frank Mbeta is a professional lawyer, so the art of cross-examination is his bread and butter. Even when facing criminal charges, he is able to skillfully respond to questions especially from non-legal individuals such as members of PAC.

Therefore, it is crucial that trained law enforcement officers conduct a comprehensive inquiry into the Amaryllis hotel financial fraud and those responsible for fraudulent activities, regardless of public status, must be held accountable by the competent legal system.

Many Malawians are concerned about the potential influence of certain DPP members who are close to President Mutharika and therefore are taking advantage of his elderly age to sway his decisions.

In summary, it can be logically concluded that APM’s decisions are impacted by various factors and certain DPP gurus are being seen as more influential than APM.

Disclaimer: The views expressed in the article are those of The author not necessarily of The Maravi Post or Editor

Law and order, Opinion, Politics

Before we hang AG Frank Mbeta, where is the verdict?

Maravi Post Author

By Kaguta Ngozo

I have followed the recent statement by the Centre for Democracy and Economic Development Initiatives (CDEDI) concerning the Attorney General, Frank Mbeta, with a heavy heart.

While I respect CDEDI’s role as a voice for the people, their call for him to step down over an old, unresolved matter feels less like a pursuit of justice and more like a rush to judgment.

We need to pause and look at this issue calmly, without getting carried away by emotions or public pressure.

First, let’s not forget one of the simplest and most important rules of justice, a person is innocent until proven guilty.

CDEDI’s letter talks about a warrant of arrest that was stopped by a court order. They present this as if it proves something shady happened. But honestly, it proves the opposite. It shows that a citizen—yes, even one holding a high office—used his right to challenge a state body in court. That right belongs to all of us.

To obtain that order, Mbeta’s lawyers must have convinced the judge that something was wrong with the ACB’s process. The court agreed to intervene. That is not corruption. That is the system working the way it should.

Here’s another thing we seem to have forgotten, nobody is actually saying what happened in the end. CDEDI admits that Malawians are “not sure how the matter was concluded.”

So we are now asking a man to lose his job based on something we are not even sure about?

If the Director of Public Prosecutions looked at the file and decided there was no case to answer, then legally speaking, that should be the end of it.

To ignore that and keep demanding answers based on rumours is not justice. It is mob rule dressed up as activism.

We should also be careful about how we talk about the court order itself. The letter mentions that the order came from Judge Zione Ntaba. But to say that getting an order from a certain judge automatically means the system is corrupt—that is a heavy accusation to make without proof.

It suggests that whenever a public figure wins in court, something must be wrong. That is not fair to the judges, and it is not fair to the process. Unless someone has evidence that the judge was bribed or pressured, we should accept the court’s decision as legitimate.

Think about this, if we say that Mr Mbeta cannot fight corruption because he was once investigated, then we are saying that only people who have never been accused of anything can hold office. In Malawi today, accusations fly around all the time—sometimes true, sometimes not.

If we follow this logic, we will soon run out of people to lead. In fact, going through an investigation and coming out clean might actually give someone a deeper understanding of how the system fails or succeeds. That experience could make him a better Attorney General, not a compromised one.

We also need to think about where this leads. If we set a rule that any minister can be pushed out because of an old allegation—even one that was never proven—then we are opening a door that will never close. Every political enemy will go hunting for the oldest story they can find, and no leader will ever feel safe enough to do their work.

The country will be stuck in constant chaos, with everyone defending themselves instead of serving the people. The standard for stepping aside should be clear: an active case, a credible charge, not a closed file from years ago.

Corruption is a real problem and we need people of integrity to fight it. But let’s be clear, integrity does not mean never being accused. It means how you carry yourself when accusations come.

Mr. Mbeta has the chance to show that—by doing his job, by strengthening the institutions that investigate everyone equally. If the ACB has new evidence, let them bring it forward.

If a court finds him guilty, let him face the consequences.

But until then, let’s respect the legal process that is supposed to protect all of us. Calling for someone’s head based on uncertainty is not bravery. It is just noise.

So before we demand that Frank Mbeta steps aside, let’s ask ourselves: do we want a country where decisions are made by courts and evidence, or one where they are made by public anger and incomplete stories?

The answer to that question will tell us what kind of Malawi we are building.

Disclaimer: The views expressed in the article are those of The author not necessarily of The Maravi Post or Editor

Politics

Mutharika is sowing public service with crooks in his chaotic appointments

MaraviPost 1 Comment

.…“A Nation Held Hostage by Crooks”: Professor Chirwa Tears Into Mutharika’s Chaotic Appointments, Says Malawi Is Being Looted Piece by Piece

PRETORIA-(MaraviPost)-A storm is brewing in Malawi’s political circles after renowned constitutional law scholar Professor Danwood Chirwa launched a scathing attack on President Peter Mutharika, accusing him of “parceling out the country to crooks” through what he calls chaotic, piecemeal appointments.

In a blistering social media post that has set tongues wagging, the University of Cape Town-based professor said Mutharika’s slow and selective approach to filling key government positions is a symptom of weak leadership, not wisdom.

Chirwa’s remarks come amid growing public frustration over Mutharika’s staggered and opaque appointment process, which has seen key ministries, departments, and parastatals filled in phases, often after long delays — and, critics say, with questionable individuals.

The professor did not mince words, accusing the president of ceding control to corrupt networks within his circle.

The outburst comes just days after Mutharika named new heads of the Malawi Revenue Authority, Attorney General’s office, and other top government posts — moves that have drawn mixed reactions, with some describing them as “rewarding loyalty over merit.”

Chirwa went further, drawing parallels with Madagascar, suggesting that Malawi may need a radical reset to break the cycle of impunity and political patronage.

He ended his post with a stinging rebuke:

Chirwa’s words reflect deepening public anxiety about the direction of Mutharika’s administration, which many view as sluggish, uncoordinated, and captured by vested interests.

Specifically questionable appointments included Minister of State (Alfred Gangata) with court battles on possession of fake MSCE certificate and forgery contract cases.

Gangata in court for fake, forgery cases

Not only that but also Minister of Agriculture (Roza Mbilizi) is still in court with Norman Chisale on abuse of Mutharika’s TPN.

Mbilizi for TPN case

While Attorney General (AG) Frank Mbeta has compromised reputation in legal circles who has been reaping from clients.

Mbeta not trusted legal minds

And also Finance Minister (Joseph Mwanamvekha) is also in court for various financial crimes committed before 2020.

Mwanamveka in various financial crimes cases

Observers say the professor’s intervention captures a growing sentiment among Malawians that the government has become a fiefdom of political elites, disconnected from the everyday struggles of citizens facing economic decline, joblessness, and rising living costs.

Whether Mutharika will respond is yet to be seen — but one thing is clear: Malawi’s patience is wearing thin, and even the nation’s sharpest minds are no longer holding back.

Additional information: Nyasa Times

Politics, Top News

ACB’s Kondowe in abuse of office; desperate to have lawyer Mbeta arrested

Maravi Post correspondent 1 Comment

Kondowe: Bays for Lawyer Mbeta's blood
Kondowe: Bays for Lawyer Mbeta’s blood

Director of Malawi’s graft-busting body—the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB)—desperately wants to have enterprising private practice lawyer Frank Mbeta of Mbeta & Co. law firm arrested over a case he won against FDH bank. In the case, the court ordered FDH bank to pay MK784 million in damages to Maranatha Girls Academy Ltd, the party Mbeta was representing.

Our investigations reveal that lawyer Mbeta followed the letter and spirit of the law to have the judgment of the court effected. And this did not please FDH bank which consulted Kondowe for help.

Why did FDH bank consult Kondowe?

Our investigators have found that Lucas Kondowe is in deep financial trouble as he owes First Merchant Bank (FMB)millions of Malawi Kwacha in unpaid loans. Not so long ago FMB made a move to acquire the deputy director’s BlueBird Lodge in Limbe but FDH bank came to his rescue after National Bank gave him a cold shoulder.

As they say, scratch my back I will scratch yours, Kondowe when consulted by FDH bank advised the bank to cook evidence imputing misconduct on Mbeta’s handling of the case so that ACB can use that as a basis for his arrest thereby creating a room for the bank to play hide and seek on the payment of the damages.

Our investigations further reveal that this is not the first time Lucas Kondowe has bayed for Mbeta’s blood as he once failed to have him arrested on frivolous charges after he won a case involving businessperson Karamat Ullah Chaudhry.

Frank Mbeta was tight-lipped when our investigators reached him for his reaction to this development.

“I know nothing about what you’re saying. It is simply the nature of our profession that we crush shoulders once in a while; but that is normal. However, I’d not be surprised if what you’re insinuating gets to see the light of day given my troubled history with Lucas Kondowe,” Frank Mbeta said.

Our efforts to talk to the spokesperson of the ACB Egritta Ndala proved futile as we went to press but from our previous questionnaire on the body’s duties, no official let alone a director is allowed to use their position to settle scores with their enemies.