Anti Corruption Bureau director, Martha Chizuma, has broken the integrity code of her job as she is staying in a house being paid for by government while at the same time drawing a hefty housing allowance from the bureau.
This revelation shows that Chizuma’s conduct borders on abuse of office because she is getting double benefits for one line of expenditure. This is purely against the dictates of the fight against corruption, corporate governance and good practice.
This publication understands that Chizuma resides in an upmarket estate in Lilongwe in one of the 14 Presidential villas.
An inside source at ACB wonders why the director continues to receive her housing allowance monthly without raising a red flag.
“When she assumed office she begged to be housed at the villas for security purposes, a request that was granted. However, she was supposed to stop receiving her housing allowance knowing fully well that government is already taking care of her accommodation. It is sad that she continues to feign ignorance on an issue that is very straightforward.”
The source says Chizuma is supposed to inform the human resources department in writing of the anomaly and further ask for proper corrections to take place. Failure to do so means she is complicit in this wrongdoing and can be taken to task both administratively and legally.
Her conduct is surprising especially because she has been in the forefront speaking against corruption in society and championing austerity with government coffers.
“You may remember that the director has time and again gone to Parliament to complain of limited funding that is channeled to the bureau. With that in mind, it is surprising why she has chosen to be getting from the bureau what she is not entitled to. What she is doing is purely wastage of government resources and pure theft,” said the source.
The 14 Presidential villas were constructed during Bingu wa Mutharika’s first term but opened in 2015 to house high-level delegates during their stay in Malawi. Since then the estate has hosted heads of state and government and top dignitaries from across the globe.