TEST OF PRESIDENT'S COMMITMENT TO ANTI-CORRUPTION

UNCLAS LILONGWE 001059 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR AF/S JEANNE MALONEY STATE FOR INR/AA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV KDEM MI SUBJECT: TEST OF PRESIDENT'S COMMITMENT TO ANTI-CORRUPTION CAMPAIGN ¶1. (SBU) The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) is investigating two cases against high-profile government ministers, which serve as another test of President Mutharika's commitment to his zero-tolerance anti-corruption campaign. If either is convicted it would be a blow to the President's Democratic Progressive Party, while proving that the ACB has the full independence it claims. ¶2. (SBU) Minister of Health Heatherwick Ntaba, who is also the publicity secretary of the president's party, is being investigated for misuse of public funds. Ntaba has been accused of taking over $4,500 US in allowances for a trip that he never went on in 2003. Ntaba claims to have recently paid back half of the money, after the allegations surfaced. ACB Director Gustave Kaliwo told Embassy officials that he is investigating Ntaba, but isn't convinced that failure to re-pay unused allowances by itself constitutes a criminal act. The ACB is also investigating two other ministers and a number of opposition figures on similar charges. ¶3. (SBU) The ACB is also investigating Minister of Water and Irrigation Sidick Mia on charges of infringing on election laws. In the run-up to the December 6, 2005 parliamentary by-elections Mia was accused of paying off elections officials in a district in southern Malawi. He reportedly paid 1000 Malawi Kwatcha (about $8 U.S.) each to all poll supervisors in the constituency. The Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) investigated the matter, and then replaced all supervisors a week before the election. The ACB is currently looking into prosecuting Mia for corruption, and currently has three investigators in the field looking into the case. ¶4. (SBU) On a related front, corruption charges against former Blantyre City mayor John Chikakwiya were reduced on December 12, after he had served eight months for 'theft by a public servant' and 'abuse of public funds'. Chikakwiya had been convicted of stealing $3,700 US, but he returned most of the money during his trial. The theft charge was overturned by the Supreme Court, leaving only the abuse of public funds charge, and the nine-month sentence it carries with it. Chikakwiya was then released early for good behavior, after having served eight months of the nine-month sentence. ¶5. (SBU) Comment: The Ntaba and Mia cases provide another test of the anti-corruption campaign that Mutharika has made a center-piece of his administration. Mutharika has already fired two cabinet ministers because of corruption, but both cases came before he founded his new party, which needs all the support it can get in parliament. ACB Director Gustave Kaliwo claims that he has had no outside interference, and told Embassy officials that if the President ever asked him to back away from a case, he would resign. The general public, as well as a number of opposition MPs, are also looking at the two cases as a test of how much tolerance there actually is in Mutharika's 'zero-tolerance' pledge. GILMOUR