Vice-President Saulos Chilima faces nation
Vice-President Saulos Chilima is today expected to address Malawians on matters of national interest, almost two weeks after his name was mentioned in the report which Anti-Corruption Bureau Director-General Martha Chizuma presented to President Lazarus Chakwera. Chimwendo Banda has said in a statement released yesterday that Business Committee…
Vice-President Saulos Chilima is today expected to address Malawians on matters of national interest, almost two weeks after his name was mentioned in the report which Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) Director-General Martha Chizuma presented to President Lazarus Chakwera.
The ACB report was in relation to the United Kingdom-based businessman Zuneth Sattar’s alleged corrupt dealings with some Malawi Government officials.
Chilima’s address coincides with reports that some parliamentarians were hatching a plot to impeach him.
However, Leader of Government Business in Parliament Richard Chimwendo Banda has disputed reports that they intend to commence impeachment proceedings against Chilima.
Chimwendo Banda has said in a statement released yesterday that Business Committee members met on Wednesday in preparation for the sixth meeting in the 49th session of Parliament, which begins on July 18 2022.
“I wish to state here that at no point did the impeachment of the Vice President come up for discussion. No notice of such motion, as is required by our Standing Orders, has either been lodged, let alone discussed by the Business Committee,” Chimwendo Banda’s statement reads.
He disclosed that the meeting will deliberate on its usual business items such as ministerial statements, questions to Cabinet ministers, members’ motions and bills, among other things.
“It is my hope that this statement puts matters on these rumours, about the business of the House for the forthcoming meeting, to rest,” he adds.
Last week, the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) submitted to President Lazarus Chakwera a progress report regarding investigations into Sattar’s alleged corrupt practices, in which they alleged that Chilima was linked to the Malawi-born British businessman.
Following the revelation, Chakwera suspended all delegated duties to his vice, with other reports indicating that the Malawi Congress Party was drafting a Private Members’ Bill to commence Chilima’s impeachment procedures.