By Esnart Chingwalu
Centre for Democracy and Economic Development Initiatives (CDEDI) says it will write again the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) to request for a fresh probe into the State House Crossroads Hotel saga.
A press statement signed by its executive director Sylvester Namiwa said the organisation met ACB director general Martha Chizuma on Monday among others issues to seek the bureau’s clarification about the saga’s report which cleared the State House.
In its letter to the bureau, CDEDI felt ACB failed to explain to the Malawian tax payers, as regards the interest and motive of a private citizen who made payments to Crossroads Hotel, together with the State House, to settle bills that were incurred by some guests that came to Malawi at the invitation of the State House.
According to the statement, Chizuma has refused to explain more about the guests saying it borders on matters on security of President Lazarus Chakwera.
According to CDEDI, Chizuma has assured his organisation that the ACB is ready and willing to institute a fresh probe into the Crossroads Hotel saga, so long as such a complaint is backed with tangible evidence, pointing to the fact that the other funds apart from the MK12.5 million paid by the State House, came from public coffers.