Catholic Bishops trading under the banner of the Episcopal Conference of Malawi (ECM) have expressed shock over the arrest and release without charge of the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) Director General Martha Chizuma, saying the events raise serious questions of who is in control and threaten the security of ordinary Malawians.

In the statement the Bishops have expressed their fears over who the responsible person was, when even President Lazarus Chakwera was not aware of.

“What most seriously disturbs the nation is the lack of knowledge of the state president of the Republic of Malawi about the arrest warrant of this very important public officer. We cannot but join many Malawians who, in their disbelief, are wondering who is really in-charge of affairs of this country,” reads the statement which describes what happened as a “wake-up call for the President and Government…”.

While applauding government for assuring that it is pursuing the matter, the Catholic bishops observe there is general skepticism that this could be “cosmetic” to give the impression government is in control.

“It baffles us that all this operation involving the arrest of a high profile official in the government and involving a legitimate organ of the state like the police was happening without the people that ordinarily would be expected to know. …our fear is who is behind this then?…how secure are we as citizens and a nation?” the bishops wonder.

Below is the statement;