The Human Rights Consultative Committee (HRCC) has demanded “justifiable reasons” for the exclusion of Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) director general Martha Chizuma’s submissions in the commission of inquiry’s report.

President Lazarus Chakwera last month instituted the commission to inquire about Chizuma’s arrest by the police on 6 December 2022.

The arrest followed Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Steve Kayuni’s complaint that he was injured by the ACB chief’s accusations in a leaked audio recording.

In its report assessment read out at a press conference in Lilongwe on Friday, HRCC argued: “We further find it questionable that submissions by ACB Director Martha Chizuma, who also appeared before the commission, have not been taken into consideration…

“Until today we have not been convinced why her submissions were not included. In the spirit of the right to be heard and the rule of natural justice, the commission accounts for the omission.”

Alfred Munika (L) and Mkwezalamba address the press

HRCC, a network of 97 civil society organisations, has also asked the commission to disclose the magistrate or judge who issued Chizuma’s warrant of arrest.

“Having submitted a complaint to police on Saturday the 3rd of December 2022, the report is silent as regards when the arrest warrant was secured and from which magistrate or judge.

“It is important for such details to be known as ACB director’s audio mentioned a litany of alleged corrupt public officers and judiciary officials as such their mention may have provided some link now or in the near future when the audio allegations will be confirmed,” the committee further said.

HRCC chairperson Robert Mkwezalamba alongside committee members Alfred Munika, Desmond Mhango and Mary Nthakomwa addressed the briefing in which they generally backed the commission’s recommendations.

The retired judge Edward Twea-led team called for disciplinary action against Chizuma for her conduct on the leaked audio where she discussed details of an investigation with a third party.

Ironically, the President publicly reprimanded Chizuma, but cautioned her not to do it again.

On Kayuni, the commission also recommended that action be taken against him as his criminal libel complaint caused Chizuma’s arrest.

HRCC has since asked Chakwera to immediately act on the 21 recommendations the commission made.

Justice Twea did not pick up our calls seeking his reaction and had not responded to our questionnaire as we went for press

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