Chizuma Leaves ACB

The Director General of Malawi’s Anti-Corruption Bureau, Martha Chizuma, says she will not renew her contract with the Bureau as it expires on Friday.

Chizuma who first served as the Ombudsman has led the bureau since 2020 and has been credited with several successes in the fight against corruption, including the establishment of the Anti-Corruption Source Book for primary schools and the enactment of the Whistleblower Protection Act.

However, her tenure has also been murred by challenges and controversies leading to the appointing authority disciplining her.

In 2022, she became the first ACB Director General to be arrested and detained, though she was later discharged, the incident highlighting lack of independence she faced in tackling corruption.

Despite these challenges, Chizuma remained committed to the fight against corruption and her decision not to renew her contract has been seen as a surprise by many.

Ironically, though government claims that the Bureau is adequately funded, Chizuma has disputed this, saying that the reality on the ground is different with the bureau meeting the four-month funding gap in the 2023/2024 financial year, resulting in significant debts and other challenges.

Several commentators says her departure from the Anti-Corruption Bureau marks the end of an era in Malawi’s fight against graft.