Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05LILONGWE1059
2005-12-19 14:18:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Lilongwe
Cable title:
TEST OF PRESIDENT'S COMMITMENT TO ANTI-CORRUPTION
how-toVZCZCXRO9905 RR RUEHLMC DE RUEHLG #1059 3531418 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 191418Z DEC 05 FM AMEMBASSY LILONGWE TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 2135 INFO RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC 0399 RUEHLMC/MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE CORPORATION WASHINGTON DC
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
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
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