Due to pressure from the nation’s major funders and local civil society organizations, Malawi has withdrawn criminal proceedings against the head of the anti-corruption agency.
Regarding a leaked recording in which she is said to have said that some judicial officers and top government officials are impeding the fight against corruption, Martha Chizuma was charged with criminal defamation.
The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) announced over the weekend that the cases had been dropped after evaluation and discussion with the attorney general.
However, Ms. Chizuma’s attorney informed Voice of America that the accusations have not been legally dropped.
The allegedly defamatory statements were made in a covertly recorded private chat between Ms. Chizuma and a non-office employee.
She was removed from office as a result of the litigation, but a high court reinstated her last week.
The European Union, the United Kingdom, and the United States have all released statements expressing grave concern over her suspension.
