By Wadza Botomani
Pressure is mounting again for Lands Minster to resign from his post and pave way for proper investigation into his corruption conduct. A civil society organisation, Youth and Society (YAS) demand the dis-honourable minister to resign following his arrest by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB). This comes on a day when The Public Affairs Committee (PAC) has also questioned why Msukwa is still a minister up to this day
The failure to act on Msukwa is eroding public trust and support in the presidency as people feel “nothing for us but something for them”, a contradiction to Chakwera’s promises during the general elections campaign.
YAS, a governance and human rights watchdog, has given Msukwa 7 days from January 17 to resign — failing which the NGO “will take necessary action within the law”.
“We believe that your resignation is the first significant step in ensuring justice and accountability in this corruption case, and in curing a climate of impunity in your Ministry,” says the letter issued by YAS Executive Director, Charles Kajoloweka.
YAS contends that its has taken this course of action as Msukwa’s arrest — in connection with investigations on Sattar and state capture of epic proportions — have attracted huge public interest.
In a statement after the interface with President Chakwera , PAC through Monsignor Thawale said it has observed that “contradictions have emerged in the manner Chakwera’s administration has treated former Minister of Energy, Newton Kambala, and Minister of Lands, Hon. Kezzie Msukwa, on allegation of corruption as compared to the way you fired Minister of Labour, Hon. Ken Kandodo.” It has since demanded that Msukwa be fired from his role.
Msukwa was arrested after it was discovered that he allegedly allowed sale of land on Lilongwe in favour of Sattar and that the British National offered him bribes — allegations which Msukwa denies.
Msukwa maintains that the sale of the said plot number 46/2057 in Area 46 in Lilongwe was sold to Sattar by the Ministry before he became its minister.
Msukwa had argued this at Zomba High Court where he filed and made an ex-parte application for judicial review, saying the ACB failed to correctly appreciate and discharge its constitutional, statutory and administrative law duties.
Reacting to this , Muskwa who is also Member of Parliament for Chitipa East Constituency, says that he is yet to get the statement from the said organisation to make his stand.
