The United States has commended the “bold steps” taken by Malawi’s President Lazarus Chakwera after he dissolved his cabinet this week in the wake of a corruption storm involving some of his ministers.
Chargé d’Affaires at the US embassy in Lilongwe, Jeremey Neitzke, said Washington was encouraged by Chakwera’s commitment to rid his administration of corruption, which “poses a significant threat to Malawi by wasting public resources and undermining democracy and the confidence of citizens.”
“We are encouraged by President Chakwera’s commitment to ensuring that Malawi’s accountability institutions are apolitical and that those engaging in acts of corruption are brought to justice,” Neitzke said on Wednesday.
Chakwera dissolved his entire cabinet on Monday in the aftermath of a corruption storm that has seen him dismiss three of his ministers since August 2021.
The latest senior administration official to be sucked into the corruption storm is lands minister Kezzie Msukwa who was recently accused of taking bribes from a prominent businessman in exchange for prime land.
Neitzke said the U.S. government supports efforts to prevent corruption “by encouraging government transparency and access to information, as well as to prosecute corruption.”
JN/APA