President Lazarus Chakwera has fired Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Steve Kayuni and replaced him with Masauko Edwin Chamkakala with immediate effect.
Last month, Justice Minister Titus Mvalo told Parliament that Kayuni was suspended pending a further inquiry over the arrest of Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) Director General, Martha Chizuma.
Chizuma was arrested following a complaint that was lodged by Kayuni who alleged that he was injured by allegations made by Chizuma in a leaked audio clip in January, 2022.
Chizuma was formally charged with making use of speech capable of prejudicing a person against a party to judicial proceedings which is contrary to section 113 (1) (d) of the Penal Code, before being released on Police Bail.
Chakwera’s action follows recommendations by the Commission of Inquiry report on the Arrest of Chizuma.
The Commission found out that by opting for criminal charges against civil charges against Chizuma, Kayuni abused his position as DPP.
“The Commissionalso acknowledged that as any citizen of Malawi, Dr. Kayuni has a constitutional right to file a case against Ms. Chizuma in his personal capacity. However, wherethe Commission found Dr. Kayuni in the wrong was inhis decision to file a personal complaint on matters pertaining to his office as Director of Public Prosecutions while still holding that office, which the Commission found to be a conflict of interest and an act of unsound judgment.
“As President, I consider this act of unsound judgment by Dr. Kayuni to be a breach of public trust, for it is a serious matter for Malawi’s lead prosecutor to have a moment of unsound judgment or a conflict of interest.
“So I consider this a great failure for Dr. Kayuni and a great disappointment to me. For this reason, as the appointing authority for that important office, I summoned Dr. Kayuni to express to him my great displeasure and to hear his response in the interest of natural justice.
“While he expressed deep regret for his unsound judgment, he also made it clear that he feels deeply wounded by the continuing damage caused to his reputation and personal safety by the audio that leaked a year ago.
“As such, to prevent him from using a public office to settle a personal injury, I have removed Dr. Kayuni from office with immediate effect, and I thank him for his many years of service,” he said
