You are currently viewing Malawi: MCP Legislator Peter Dimba Resigns As Chairperson of Legal Affairs Committee Over ‘Futile Fight Against Corruption’

Malawi: MCP Legislator Peter Dimba Resigns As Chairperson of Legal Affairs Committee Over ‘Futile Fight Against Corruption’


The furore that is surrounding Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) Director General, Martha Chizuma is earning a lot of developments — one being the resignation of chairperson of Legal Affairs Committee in the National Assembly, Peter Dimba.

In his letter to the Speaker of Parliament, the Malawi Congress Party (MCP) legislator for Lilongwe South Constituency, says despite the gains that Legal Affairs Committee has registered over the period that he was chairperson in its efforts to provide checks and balances to the excesses of the Executive arm of government, particularly on the fight against corruption, has proved futile.

Thus he says as its leader for the past 18 months, he takes “responsibility for failing Malawi in this regard” and has since tendered his resignation effective today, February 2.

In his letter to the Speaker of Parliament, Dimba said he was “incredibly grateful” for been given the opportunity to lead the constitutional committee, whose members were “wonderful, passionate and patriotic Parliamentarians in providing oversight to the Executive particularly on governance, human rights and administration of the law”.

In December, when Chizuma was irregularly arrested at the personal instruction of the then Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Steve Kayuni over alleged abuse of office for a leaked audio in which the Director General was heard divulging some classified information on corruption investigations involving major suspect Zuneth Sattar, Dimba posted a statement on social media in which he alleged that “there is another ‘boma’ (government) that has hijacked our Boma and is running the show.

This followed President Lazarus Chakwera’s directive that all charges laid against Chizuma, a process which the President claimed he wasn’t even aware of.

Dimba said: “‘Boma ndilodabwa kuti boma lamanga mayi Chizuma’ (government is surprised that it has arrested Chizuma) struck me yesterday. It sounds simple and hilarious but it is complex and saddening.

“Now that the dust has settled and our eyes are clear, it’s important to take a serious introspection. The statement above simply means there is another ‘boma’ that has hijacked our Boma and is running the show.

“This ‘boma’ is not what Malawians wanted when they defied all odds and matched in the streets to oust DPP. This ‘boma’ is not what the 5 Judges risked their lives for when they delivered that award-winning verdict on the landmark elections case.