Bishops ask Chakwera, Chilima to protect Chizuma

Catholic Bishops in the country trading under the banner of the Episcopal Conference of Malawi (ECM) have asked President Dr. Lazarus Chakwera and his Vice Dr. Saulos Chilima to protect Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) Director General Martha Chizuma in the fight against corruption in the country.

The plea by the Bishops came barely hours after the religious body Public Affairs Committee (PAC) met President Chakwera at Sanjika where the grouping expresses dissatisfaction on how the Tonse Alliance is fighting corruption in the country.

In the statement, the Bishops said corruption undermines the dignity of the person and shatters all good and beautiful ideals.

“We appeal to the Head of State, Dr. Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera, the Vice President, Dr. Saulos Klaus Chilima and all relevant State institutions and their Heads to ensure the security of the ACB staff; especially the Director General.

“No one should be pressurized, intimidated or influenced by threats or any other means in the carrying out of their work for the good of the country. We plead, in the interest of building a more just and transparent Malawi that benefits all its citizens, that any of the investigations or cases which the ACB is dealing with are not in any way obstructed or influenced. Let no suspect, however powerful, wealthy or who their connections are, be shielded or protected provided that he or she is given proper recourse to the legal processes of the courts,” reads part of the statement signed by all Catholic Bishops in the country.

The Bishops also questioned some of the decisions made by the judicially.