Malawian Vice President arrested for receiving bribe from British national

NAIROBI, Kenya - Dr. Saulos Klaus Chilima the Vice President of Malawi has been arrested for receiving a bribe to award a government tender to a British national.

The VP was on Friday arrested by Malawi’s Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB)following months of investigation over his conduct that he received $280,000 and other items from a British businessman identified as Zuneth Sattar to influence the awarding of a lucrative government tender to the Briton.

Mid last year in a national address, Malawi's President Lazarus Chakwera stripped Chilima of his powers when the watchdog first accused him of corruption.

Dr. Chilima was taken to court to face corruption charges, the corruption watchdog said in a statement.
Footage from local media showed supporters of Chilima and the police seemingly in a scuffle as he was being taken into court for the formal reading of charges.

"I have no comment to make. We will let the court process run its course," Chilima told reporters outside court after being granted bail, according to media.

The country’s anti-corruption Bureauhas have been investigating Sattar and other public officers in Malawi over alleged plundering of state resources by influencing awarding of contracts through the country's public procurement system.

In August, the Financial Times reported that Sattar was under investigation by Britain's National Crime Agency (NCA) over alleged abuse of Malawi's public procurement system. He had not been charged with any offense and denied wrongdoing, the FT said.

Earlier this year Dr. Chakwera dissolved his entire cabinet on charges of corruption against three serving ministers.

The is now facing six charges relating to corruption as per the anti-corruption agency.

In 2021 President Chakwera sacked the Energy minister over corruption allegations. He has faced several protests over his alleged failure to act decisively on corruption issues and the poor performance of the economy.

GAROWE ONLINE