- Malawian President fires energy minister
- The ACB arrested Kambala alongside two officials
- He is accused of corruption
Malawi’s President Lazarus Chakwera has fired his Minister of Enery, Newton Kambala, following his arrest by the Anti-Corruption Agency (ACB). Kambala, who was arrested and charged to a Magistrate Court in Lilongwe, has been granted bail. Civil society and organizations had called for the immediate sack of the Minister following his arrest.
Kambala was arrested alongside Enock Chihana of the Alliance for Democracy (AFORD) and Presidential Advisor on Strategy Chris Chaima Banda. All three are accused of attempting to influence NOCMA Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Hellen Buluma, to award fuel importation contracts to three specific companies.
The Secretary to the President and Cabinet, Zanga-Zanga Chikhosi, in a statement said, ”In exercise of the powers conferred upon him by Section 95 (2) of the Constitution of the Republic of Malawi, Chakwera has removed Kambala from the Cabinet as a Cabinet member with effect from today, 11th August 2021.”
“Therefore, all queries or matters requiring the attention of the Minister of Energy should be directed to the Office of the President and Cabinet,” says the statement.
The embattled Minister has denied all charges.