Justice Minister, Titus Mvalo has said there was nothing sinister in the removal of two names he personally announced in parliament as being part of the Commission of Inquiry to investigate the questionable arrest of the Anti-Corruption Bureau-ACB chief, Martha Chizuma.
The two are Malawi Human Rights Commission’s Executive Secretary, Habiba Osman and Mercy Chijere from the Malawi Law Society-MLS whose names disappeared on the final list that has since taken oath.
Some claim Osman was removed because of her closeness with Chizuma and alleged allegiance to the opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP).
But asked what she made of the changes after her name was announced in parliament, Osman said: “Kindly ask the Minister himself since he was the one that put my name forward in Parliament. I have no idea.”
MLS President, Patrick Mpaka said they nominated and submitted two names, Mercy (Chijere) and Maureen Kachingwe.
“Appointment is beyond us,” said Mpaka.
However, Mvalo explained that the five names he announced in Parliament were persons initially appointed but later the President, in exercise of his prerogative, decided to expand the membership of the Commission to include more people of diverse backgrounds because of the importance and seriousness of the task.
“In so doing, the two of the original names that I had announced lost their space in the Commission. The appointment had not yet been officially communicated to the two who are now not there and not even to the three from the original list who have been retained because by law that only happens when the appointment of the Commission has been formalized by the signature of the President and seal of Malawi,” said Mvalo.
He added “there was no malice or nefarious reason behind the two losing their space.”
President Chakwera has given a 14-day deadline to his appointed 12-member-inquiry committee to establish circumstances leading to the arrest of Chizuma as various groups trash the idea; describing it as a waste of time and public resources.
Tuesday last week, a gang of police officers nabbed Chizuma in a manner some argue befitted a hardcore criminal or some high profile corruption suspect.
Source:Malawi Wathu Online
