Comptroller of Statutory Corporations Peter Simbani confirmed to Zodiak Online a short while ago that Banda has written the Minister of Finance about his resignation, but said he did not indicate the reasons for his decision.

“Yes, I can confirm that I have received a copy of a letter that Mr. John Suzi Banda, former board chairperson of PPDA, has written to the Minister of Finance tendering his resignation,” said Simbani.

Last month, President Lazarus Chakwera suspended Banda as PPDA board chairperson for allegedly being involved in corrupt dealings with businessperson Zuneth Sattar to pave the way for investigations into the matter.

Simbi said the Minister of Finance, Sosten Gwengwe, will recommend another name of a person to replace Suzi Banda in due course.

Sattar, a Malawian based in the UK, is said to have been bribing public officers in the Malawi Government in exchange for state contracts. He is currently facing multiple charges in the UK, in an investigation initiated by the National Crimes Agency (NCA).

In a national address on a report by the Director General of the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) Martha Chizuma recently, President Chakwera also said he had decided not to delegate any duties to Vice President Saulos Chilima over similar allegations.

The president fired the Inspector General of Police George Kainja and also suspended other key officials named in the report, including the chief of staff for state residences Prince Kapondamganga.

In total, according to President Chakwera, 84 individuals were named in the report for their involvement with Sattar in 2021.