At the Beginning of May 2021, Malawi leader Lazarus Chakwera wearing a matching grey Suit with Martha Chizuma appointed her to be the first female ACB director general.
Many Malawians who had pure disdain for the previous regime led by the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) were thrilled as it was assumed that Martha who gained high praise as an Ombudsman would go after the enemies of Lazarus Chakwera that included many members of the DPP. This belief was also held by Lazarus Chakwera and that is why many including the President himself were shocked when Public Appointments Committee (PAC) of Parliament would stand in her way when Chakwera submitted Martha’s name to the committee as his choice for the job.
At that time supporters of Martha believed the Parliamentary Public Appointments Committee (PAC) had courted unnecessary controversy following their decision to reject the appointment of Ombudsman Martha Chizuma as the new Director General (DG) of the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB).
Convinced that their man or in this case woman was wrongly rejected, many then including President Lazarus Chakwera were ready to put her into office by any means necessary. This would include illegal means which they did by forcing PAC to take another bite at the Apple. Now that many are souring on Martha it is believed some PAC members were paid to change their decisions.
That day Chizuma appeared before the Committee where nine members voted for her while the other nine voted against her appointment a normal circumstance, PAC comprises twenty-one members, including the chairperson.
“Those who voted against Chizuma gave her a one out of 25.” (“Controversy as PAC rejects the appointment of ‘Iron Lady Martha Chizuma …”) The Tonse Alliance members of the Committee suspected that her rejection was a calculated move by the opposition members of the Committee to block her appointment, Knowing Lazarus Chakwera was going to use her to after some of them once she was given the job as some of the MPs were answering corruption charges. Of course, they were right.
Voice of America in a glaring headline wrote “Uproar Forces Malawi Parliament to Confirm Anti-Corruption Chief“, the post continued to say,
Malawi lawmakers have taken a sudden U-turn and confirmed Martha Chizuma as the first woman to head the country’s anti-corruption bureau or ACB. Lawmakers had rejected Chizuma for the post last week, raising accusations that the opposition scuttled the process for fear of being prosecuted for corruption during their time in power.
Seventeen lawmakers on the Parliamentary Appointments Committee attended a special meeting Monday to review last week’s rejection of Martha Chizuma.
Thirteen lawmakers participated in voting, while four from the opposition Democratic Progressive Party walked out in protest of the new voting procedure.
Chizuma was then elected to lead the ACB with twelve in favor and one abstention. (“Uproar Forces Malawi Parliament to Confirm Anti-Corruption Chief”)
Humphrey Mvula, a social and political commentator based in Blantyre, said the boycott of opposition lawmakers confirmed public views correctly that Chizuma’s rejection was a calculated move to frustrate the fight against corruption.
Following many arrests of the opposition upon being appointed, Martha Chizuma has failed to get any convictions in court and decided to then turn on the MCP and many members of the “Tonse Alliance” to the disappointment of many in the ruling party. Many who pushed her nomination through illegally are now doing most of the complaining about her failures.
If Martha had any integrity, then and now she should have withdrawn her nomination. However, do not lose any sleep she never was qualified for this job. DPP knew it. Lazarus Chakwera was hoping for a puppet. The only good thing to have come out of this is Martha’s incompetence has been revealed for all to see
