The Anti-Corruption Bureau will soon engage private lawyers in prosecuting some of its cases. The Bureau already has three of its own lawyers The total establishment is eight. The Bureau has decided to engage private lawyers in order to help clear a backlog of cases on completed investigations. The Bureau has secured funding from the British government through the Department For International Development (DFID).

DFID will support the engagement of Lawyers for three years. During this period measures will be undertaken to strengthen the Bureau Prosecutions Department. The Bureau believes the private lawyers will greatly assist in clearing a backlog of cases for prosecutions. The Judiciary through the Registrar of High Court, has been briefed about this development so that more room is given to the Bureau within the court system so that more Bureau cases are brought for trial. The Malawi nation will be assured of speedier use of the court system in all corruption cases. The funding is part of an ongoing technical assistance that the British Government through DFID is providing to Malawi’s governance programmes. This includes the fight against Corruption. The Bureau has worked with the Director of Public Prosecutions in setting terms of reference for the private Lawyers.

It is in the interest of the Bureau to see to it that the programme takes off soon so that it clears the backlog of cases it has.

It is in the interest of the Bureau to ensure that cases are handled with necessary speed.

It is in the interest of the Bureau to see to it that the programme takes off soon so that it clears the backlog of cases it has.

It is in the interest of the Bureau to ensure that cases are handled with necessary speed.

The Anti Corruption Bureau in conjunction with Transparency International Malawi Chapter recently organized a workshop for NGO’s and Civil Society . The workshop took place at Sun ‘N’ Sand in Mangochi on 17th and 18th January, 2002.

The theme for the workshop was “ The Role of NGO’s/Civil Society in promoting Transparency and Accountability in our society” . The theme was complemented by a slogan . “Your determined and collective efforts in the fight against corruption in Malawi will make a difference in attaining a corruption-free Malawi as envisaged in the Vision 2020”. The Workshop drew participants

“The Workshop drew participants from twenty-four NGO’s in the areas of advacy.

In an ongoing case in which a magistrate from Chikwawa is being accused by the state of soliciting a bribe from an accused in order for him to pass on a fair sentence, the Resident Magistrate Court in Blantyre ruled on 16th January that the Magistrate from Chikwawa has a case to answer.

Mr George Saulosi Chirombo, the accused, was working as a magistrate at Chikwawa Magistrate Court . He is alleged to have demanded a sum of K2,000 from an accused in order for him to pass on fair sentence in favour of the accused. The matter was reported to the Bureau who in turn arrested the magistrate after investigations.

The case will continue on 12th February, 2002 at the Blantyre Magistrate Court.

Court acquits accused

The Blantyre Resident Magistrate Court on 4th January, 2002 acquitted Mr Issa Gaffer on charges that he offered to give two herds of Cattle to Chikwawa District Commissioner, Mr Kizwel Dakamawo. Making his ruling the Chief Resident Magistrate Mr Joseph Manyungwa said there was no case to answer for Mr Gaffer Issa. The ruling was presided over by Chief Resident Magistrate Slyvester Kalembera. The Bureau appreciates the support it gets from the public.

The Anti-Corruption Bureau Corruption Prevention Division conducted spot checking exercises in forty-eight examination centers in the country during the 2001 MSCE Examinations. They nabbed 147 students who were cheating. During the JCE examinations they visited 18 examination centers in Lilongwe and Mchinji, 27 candidates were caught with unauthorised reference materials. In Primary Schools they visited 22 examination centers in Salima and Lilongwe, 10 students were caught with unauthorised reference materials. The evidence was handed over to MANEB for further action at a ceremony in the Bureau Headquarters in Lilongwe. The reference materials included a white shirt with notes written in Blue Ink.

The Bureau in conjunction with Pharmacy and Poisons Board and Malawi Police Service has nabbed some people who were selling drugs in Area 36 in Lilongwe. The Bureau offered intelligence to the Police, Pharmacy and Poisons Board who later arrested the people. The Bureau wishes to inform the public that it is illegal to sell drugs in open places such as markets.

The Bureau will from February, 2002 sponsor one of the top three radio programme, Pamajiga. The Bureau signed a thirteen week contract with MBC Radio 1 to sponsor Pamajiga as part of its efforts to reach out to as many people as possible.

The Bureau was prompted to sponsor Pamajiga because was voted as one of the best programmes on MBC Radio hence it attracts wider audience in both the urban and rural areas. The Bureau wishes to reach out to as many people as possible in the year 2002 as part of its programme to enlist support from the public in the fight against Corruption in Malawi.

In the year 2001, during the entertainers programme the Bureau sponsored one hour in the Media Category in Entertainers of the Year Programme as one way of encouraging the Media to continue informing the public issues of corruption, hence playing a bigger role in changing peoples attitudes.

Among the prizes that were offered were twenty -seven t-shirts, fifty key holders, thirty ball point pens, with appropriate anti-corruption messages. The Bureau will not rest until people change behaviour for the better.

The Anti-Corruption Bureau in collaboration with Parliament has embarked on a training programme to widen Members of Parliament knowledge on the subject of Corruption. Mps attending the Parliamentary Training Programme will now be attending a class on Corruption.

The Corruption subject will be delivered by Bureau officials and the first classes were delivered on 30th January 2002 at Old Parliament buildings in Zomba. The subject of Corruption was incorporated upon request from the Bureau.

Speaking in an interview, Miss Thandie Nkovole, a Bureau Civic Education Officer had this to say. “The Bureau saw it fit to ask the Clerk of Parliament to include corruption as one of the subjects so that MPs are aware about issues of Corruption and how they can take a leading role in sensitising the communities on the dangers of Corruption in Malawi”. The next classes will take place in April, 2002 . The Bureau is expected to deliver a lecture to a new group of Mps.

The Bureau will soon embark on a country wide survey to gather views on how people in Malawi perceive corruption The Survey will be funded by the World Bank. Currently short listing of the consultant company. The technical committee will soon meet to identify a company that will conduct the survey. The Bureau advertised in the local papers inviting companies to submit their interest to participate in the survey. The survey will assist the Bureau in designing various programmes to address problems of corruption.

The Anti-Corruption Bureau in collaboration with Malawi Institute of Management has currently embarked on a programme to design and develop a generic Corruption Training Manual for Public Officers in the country.

The Manual will be developed with the financial assistance from the Royal Danish Embassy. It will be used to train Public Officers by government Training Institutions such as MIM and others on issues pertaining to corruption and bribery, the dangerous effects and how public officers can avoid corruption in their work places. Speaking in an interview the Director of the Bureau had this to say “ Public Officers are one of the most important group that needs to be addressed on issues of corruption. Public officers are agents of the government and whatever they do should reflect the interest of the government hence public officers should be corruption free”. The Bureau is looking forward to training the public officers on issues of corruption so that Malawi attains a corruption-free public service.

The Deputy Director Mr Alex Nampota, the Assistant Director Mr Victor Banda and the technical Advisor to the Director Mr Paul Russell answered questions from the public in a Radio Phone In Programme that was aired on MBC Radio 1.

The Bureau occasionally participates in Phone In programmes as one way of giving feedback to the public on the developments within the Bureau.

The Bureau in conjunction with a youth club popularly known as Lilongwe City Anti-Corruption Movement sensitised the youth in the City of Lilongwe on the dangers of corruption during examinations and how the religious youth can help disseminate corruption messages as well as showing good example to attain a corruption free future. The theme for the day was “The role of religious youth in fighting Corruption”. The open day drew participants from the Muslim and Christian communities. Over 500 youths attended.

Investigations and Corruption Prevention Officers in the Bureau attended an assertiveness Course at Malawi Institute of Management, on 21st to 25th January and 28th to 1st February 2002. The Course was aimed at equipping the officers with assertiveness skills in order for them to carry out effectively their duties in investigations and corruption prevention exercise.

Speaking during opening, the Director of the Bureau, Mr Gilton Chiwaula said, he expected to see the officers more assertive at the end of the course hence discharging their duties efficiently.

The Bureau’s Senior Officers attended a one week Management Course at Malawi Institute of Management from 4th to 8th February, 2002.

The Course aimed at equipping the senior officers in the Bureau with management skills

The Course will be opened by the Director of the Bureau Mr Gilton Chiwaula .

That will undertake the survey has been done . The technical team will meet shortly to decide on who will conduct the survey.

The Bureau lost one of its

dedicate officers Mr. D.R. Phiri on 13th January, 2002 who until his death was an Administrative Officer. He was laid to rest at his home at Jenda in Mzimba on

15th January, 2002.

R.I.P.

The Anti-Corruption Bureau
P.O. Box 2437
Lilongwe.
Tel. 757 6821683 / 844
Fax. 751 943

OR

The Anti-Corruption Bureau
P / Bag 170
Blantyre
Tel. 624 229/350 /620 416
Fax. 622 S72