Chakwera fires public prosecution chief, maintains Chizuma

President Lazarus Chakwera Chakwera has fired Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) Steven Kayuni while maintaining Martha Chizuma as Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) Director.

Chakwera has made the announcement this morning during a national address on an inquiry report into the arrest of Chizuma.

As it transpired in the report, the ACB chief was arrested on a complaint from Kayuni, in relation to a leaked audio in which Chizuma is deemed to have divulged sensitive information to an unknown person.

According to the President, the Commission found Kayuni in the wrong as he filed a personal complaint on matters pertaining to his office as DPP while still holding that office.

This was an irregularity as there was a conflict of interest and an act of unsound judgment.

“I consider this act of unsound judgment by Dr. Kayuni to be a breach of public trust, for it is a serious matter for Malawi’s lead prosecutor to have a moment of unsound judgment or a conflict of interest. So I consider this a great failure for Dr. Kayuni and a great disappointment to me,” Chakwera said.

Chakwera went on to say that he has opted to remove Kayuni in order to prevent him from using his official position to settle personal matters.

He has since appointed Masauko  Chamkakala of the Malawi Legal Aid Bureau as the new DPP.

The development  comes a fortnight after the commission, chaired by retired Justice Edward Twea presented its report to Chakwera in which, among others issues, it recommended administrative action on Chizuma.

“I want to make this clear today: I stand by my decision to not fire Ms. Chizuma a year ago and I stand by my choice of her as my champion against corruption today,” the president said.

Chakwera has on several occasions declared his trust in Chizuma as a champion against corruption.

The President has since emphasized that he remains unshaken in the supporting efforts towards dealing with corruption in the country.

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