By Chisomo Phiri
The Malawi Human Rights Commission ( MHRC) says it has instituted an investigation into the arrest of Anti-Corruption Bureau ( ACB) Director General Martha Chizuma.
In a statement, MHRC Executive Secretary Habiba Osman indicates that the investigation is due to the complaint that the human rights body received from Chizuma who said her rights were violated when she was arrested and that the Presidential Commission of Inquiry Report which was released on January 3,2023 , did not disclose the human rights violations that occurred during the arrest.
Osma further says, the investigation also follows other additional complaints the commission received from other stakeholders, urging it to conduct an independent investigation into the matter.
” The commission therefore, in exercise of its mandate under section 129 of the constitution, has commenced investigations into the arrest of Martha Chizuma and subsequent events that have unfolded.
” This investigation is is the continuation of a fact-finding mission commenced when Chizuma was arrested and it has become apparent through the complaints received that a comprehensive human rights investigation is required in this matter, ” says Osman in a statement.
Meanwhile, the commission is calling on all informats and stakeholders to support and furnish it with information in its said investigation.
Chizums is expected to appear before court tomorrow, Friday following a fresh complaint from High Court Judge Simeon Mdeza.
According to court documents in circulation, the ACB’s boas appearance in court will be for plea taking on charge of making use of speech calculated to lower authority of a person before whom a judicial proceeding is being had, contrary to section 113(d) of the Penal Code.
The charge is based on her statement alleging that Justice Mdeza received a bribe when he presided over a case involving Ashok Kumar Sreedharan, an alleged accomplice of businessperson Zuneth Sattar last year.
She was first arrested in December last year on allegations that in her leaked audio she described DPP’s Steve Kayuni as corrupt and compromised.
However, last week, President Lazarus Chakwera said anyone injured by Chizuma’s leaked audio is free to take legal action against the ACB boss.
