Commentators on corruption, accountability, democracy and good governance have cautioned the Office of Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) for discontinuing and dropping high profile corruption cases involving some senior government officials.

The DPP has recently discontinued the prosecution of the K5 billion case involving the Deputy Minister of Homeland Security Norman Chisale and the corruption related case involving the former Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) Director General Reyneck Matemba.

This has sparked debates among different minds on government’s commitment in fighting against corruption.

Willy Kambwandira, the Executive Director of Centre for Social Accountability and Transparency (CSAT) says what the DPP is doing is abuse of office and a mismatch to what President Peter Mutharika and his government are preaching. 

“Honestly this does not give confidence in government’s commitment to fight against corruption and bribery and this confirms selective prosecution of corruption cases. We therefore demand parliament to put in place reforms that will safeguard and check the powers of the DPP of discontinuing cases without proper justifications,” said Kambwandira. 

Chairperson of the National Anti-Corruption Alliance Michael Kaiyatsa says what the DPP is doing is discouragement to the corruption whistle blowers and the general public who expect government to walk the talk in the fight against corruption. 

“Stopping such high profile cases is a setback in the fight against corruption in Malawi and we ask the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Government to walk the talk, otherwise what the Director of Public Prosecution is doing is very unfortunate,” said Kaiyatsa. 

But Executive Director of Nyika Institute, Moses Mkandawire says there is no harm in the withdrawal of cases by the DPP so long as there is justification in doing so and the DPP has to explain to the public reasons for dropping the cases.

“But it becomes a challenge when the discontinued cases are those involving senior politicians, senior government officials or those close to the current government, then the fight against corruption becomes precarious given such circumstances,” said Mkandawire. 
  
Spokesperson for the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs Frank Namangale says he cannot speak to the media before these cases are reported to parliament, which will review the DPP’s decision and then make directions.