Page 55 - Msingi Afrika Magazine Issue 20

Leadership

fight against corruption, listening the developments surrounding Ms. or demanded bribes. But it also
to some of the remarks Ms. Chi- Chizuma are a timely reminder that means admitting that corruption is
zuma makes on that recording was the war on corruption is too vast to so deep in our country that many
painful. But because I took an oath be waged or won by one person or of us may have benefitted from its
of allegiance to the Constitution one agency. It needs Malawians of proceeds without even knowing it.
and pledged to work only in the best courage and integrity in intelligence It means admitting that we all need
interest of Malawian, I have chosen agencies like the Financial Intelli- to be more vigilant about where
to put Malawi first. gence Authority and the Nation- the money we spend comes from.
al Intelligence Service. It needs Because at this point, few of us can
“As a further demonstration of my Malawians of courage and integrity guarantee that none of the funds
resolve to confront all forms of in law enforcement agencies like donated by foreigners, or used
lawless conduct by public officials, the Anti-Corruption Bureau and to pay for our education, or our
I wish to take this opportunity to the Malawi Police Service. It needs political campaigns, or our wedding
pronounce myself on two matters Malawians of courage and integrity reception, or our funeral ceremo-
that affect my Administration. First, in watchdog entities like the Malawi nies, or our church buildings, or our
in exercise of the powers vested Human Rights Commission, the shopping, or our travel came from
in me by the Constitution, I have National Assembly, and the Om- acts of corruption. So we must be
dissolved my entire Cabinet effective budsman. It needs Malawians of more vigilant and each shine a light
immediately, and all the functions of courage and integrity in regulatory on ourselves, not just others.
Cabinet revert to my office until I agencies like the Malawi Revenue
announce a reconfigured Cabinet in Authority, the Reserve Bank of “But as you shine your light, be sure
two days. That reconfigured Cabinet Malawi, and others. It needs Mala- to take great pains to always conduct
will exclude the current Minister of wians of courage and integrity in yourself professionally, ethically,
Lands, to allow him to answer the the Executive and Judicial branches collaboratively, and legally. Malawi
corruption charges he is facing in of Government, and in the political simply cannot afford to lose your
court and clear his name there. This parties that compete for state power. light because of a careless mistake
is a decision I have made following And crucially, it needs Malawians of or because you exposed yourself to
yesterday’s submission to me of an courage and integrity among the Cit- evil people who will not hesitate to
official ACB report on the charges izenry to report any acts of corrup- betray you or use you to descend
the Minister is facing, which is the tion they witness. Malawi into chaos. As the Scriptures
same process I followed when I dis- say in 1st Corinthians 16:13, it is not
missed two Ministers in the past. “So although Ms. Chizuma is heard enough to stand firm, or to be cou-
saying in that recording that the rageous, or to be strong. You must
“Secondly, I have directed the British authorities told her that the also be on your guard.
Minister of Justice to inform the fight against corruption depends
Attorney General that I do not sup- solely on her integrity, I disagree. “I thank you for your attention.”
port the offer of amnesty to those Anyone who truly understands the
who defrauded Government and way this country is structured and
the Malawian people. Although the the depth of corruption within
idea of an amnesty was a campaign our midst knows that winning this
promise enshrined in our manifes- war depends on all of us. It has to,
to as a way of speedily recovering because a war is won by armies, not
Government’s stolen assets, it a lone soldier isolated from all the
cannot be effected without a clear others.
legislative framework that allows
it to be implemented lawfully and I believe that this army of Malawi-
without appearing soft on corrup- ans of courage and integrity exists,
tion. The Minister of Justice is thus and if you consider yourself to
on instruction to review this policy be in its ranks, your time to shine
and work with the Attorney General your light and expose the darkness
in designing a sound alternative for of corruption has come. Shining
recovering Malawi’s stolen treasures. your light means pointing out those
“Let me conclude by stating that who have paid or received bribes

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