MALAWI: NEW DIRECTOR OF ANTI-CORRUPTION BUREAU APPROVED

UNCLAS LILONGWE 000863 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS MCC FOR MALIK CHAKA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV KMCA KCOR MI SUBJECT: MALAWI: NEW DIRECTOR OF ANTI-CORRUPTION BUREAU APPROVED REF: LILONGWE 862 ¶1. (U) On November 13 the National Assembly's Public Appointments Committee (PAC) approved President Mutharika's appointee as Director of the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB). The new Director, Alexius Nampota, was the ACB's Deputy Director from its inception in 1998 until late 2004. The confirmation will allow the ACB to resume its prosecution efforts in several high-profile corruption cases more confidently (reftel); the ACB's prosecutions may have been more vulnerable to legal challenge without a functioning Director. ¶2. (SBU) However, the PAC did not approve the President's appointee for ACB Deputy Director. The rejection of Victor Banda, current ACB Assistant Director for Operations (there are three assistant director positions not requiring confirmation below the Deputy Director in the ACB),may have been due to his roots in Malawi's northern region, which may have raised suspicions with leaders from the mainly southern- and central-based opposition parties. It is unclear whether Banda, who has been serving as the acting Deputy Director since late August, will remain at his Assistant Director post. ¶3. (SBU) COMMENT: Renewed GOM efforts to nominate a confirmable ACB director appear to have come in part in response to the emphasis placed on this issue by the MCC. In addition, President Mutharika may be planning to re-intensify his government's anti-corruption efforts as the country moves closer to national elections scheduled for mid-2009. END COMMENT EASTHAM