By Dean Chisambo
Noel Lipipa, the Chairperson for the Parliamentary Cluster on Legal Affairs and Government Assurance, has expressed concerns that the fight against corruption in Malawi is losing its momentum. He emphasized that Malawians believe the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) is not as active as it was under the previous Director General, Martha Chizuma.
Lipipa made these comments after the ACB appeared before a parliamentary committee in Lilongwe. He questioned whether the ACB is “dead,” a perception that seems to be growing among the public. He also mentioned that the committee would be inviting ACB officials for further discussions after the budget session to address concerns about their silence and lack of activity.
During the presentation to the cluster, Lipipa revealed that the ACB had requested K5 billion to build a 24-billion-kwacha office complex, but the Treasury had only allocated 10% of that amount, which is K500 million. He added, “The discussion with the Treasury is that they are waiting for the design to be approved, and once that happens, K4.5 billion will be allocated.”
Lipipa also mentioned that the ACB requested K2.1 billion to purchase 11 vehicles. The Treasury is currently assessing if there is space in the budget to accommodate this request. He expressed hope that the ACB would be satisfied with the approval of their budget, except for the vehicles and office complex.
Furthermore, Lipipa urged the Accountant General to ensure a payment of K703 million to the ACB by March 30th to cover rent and operational costs.
In response, ACB Acting Director General Hillary Chilomba stated that the bureau is committed to law enforcement, emphasizing the importance of gathering solid evidence before taking action against alleged corrupt individuals. He called on the public to provide evidence against suspected corrupt officials, including legislators and cabinet ministers.
A member of Parliament from Mchinji also expressed concern about the ACB’s inactivity compared to the leadership of the former Director General, Martha Chizuma. The ACB’s budget for the 2025-2026 financial year is estimated at K700 billion.
