MALAWI: PRESIDENT MUTHARIKA APPOINTS NEW HEAD AND DEPUTY

UNCLAS LILONGWE 000824 SIPDIS DEPT FOR AF/S - ELIZABETH PELLETREAU MCC FOR MALIK CHAKA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV EAID MI SUBJECT: MALAWI: PRESIDENT MUTHARIKA APPOINTS NEW HEAD AND DEPUTY HEAD OF ANTI-CORRUPTION BUREAU ¶1. Summary: President Bingu wa Mutharika made appointments to fill the long-vacant posts of Director and Deputy Director of the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB). New Director Alexius Nampota served as ACB deputy under the previous Muluzi government, and the new Deputy Director, Victor Banda has been virtually managing the organization in recent months from another post. The appointments still have to be approved by the National Assembly's Public Appointment Committee, but public comments by opposition leader John Tembo indicate approval for both is likely. The GOM is also guardedly optimistic about Parliamentary confirmation. End Summary. ¶2. On August 24, President Bingu wa Mutharika's appointments to fill the long-vacant posts of Director and Deputy Director of the Anti-Corruption Bureau were made public. The appointments were actually approved by the president on October 24 and are retroactive from that date per Malawi Civil Service practice. These appointments follow the suspension of the ACB's Acting Director, Tumalisye Ndovi, in early September on allegation that he simultaneously drew two public service salaries. In May 2006, Ndovi's appointment was rejected by the National Assembly's Public Appointments Committee on grounds that he was "qualified but not suitable". Mutharika reacted to the rejection by appointing Ndovi Acting Director. ¶3. The new Director is Alexius Nampota, a private practice lawyer. Mr. Nampota served as the ACB's Deputy Director until late 2004. The new Deputy Director, Victor Banda, was Assistant Director of the ACB for several years before his appointment. Banda has been virtually directing the ACB from his previous post for months and is well regarded by donor country counterparts. Both Nampota and Banda have already started working in their new roles pending their approval or rejection by the National Assembly's Public Appointments Committee, in accord with Malawian law. Several members of the opposition-dominated Public Appointments Committee of Parliament have publicly said the appointees should not begin work until confirmed, but the GOM appears to be disregarding these statements. The National Assembly has not yet announced a date for hearings on the appointments. ¶4. Comment: Opposition leader John Tembo commented publicly that he has no problem with the appointments, a sign that the National Assembly's Public Appointments Committee will likely approve both selections barring any new political developments. Finance Minister Goodall Gondwe also expressed optimism about confirming the new appointees to the Ambassador Nov. 1, while cautioning that the other opposition party, Muluzi's UDF, had not indicated its stance on the appointments. The confirmation of the appointments will allow the ACB to restart its prosecution efforts in several high-profile corruption cases. EASTHAM