Malawi businessman arrested for alleged corruption

By Peter Jegwa

Malawi's Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has arrested a prominent business person, Abdul Karim Batatawala, and a top immigration official, Fletcher Nyirenda, on corruption charges.

The body accuses the two of involvement in Mr Batatawala being awarded an irregular government contract in which the country lost 4.7 billion Malawi Kwacha ($5.7m; £4.3m)

The two deny wrongdoing.

In the lead up to aborted 2019 presidential elections, Mr Batatawala made headlines when he deposited money directly into the then governing Democratic Progressive Party's bank account, which had just been opened with the ex-president, Peter Mutharika, as the sole signatory.

The cash was returned following a public outcry, although questions remained as to why a businessman who regularly secured government tenders was donating to the governing party.

Malawi's new President, Lazarus Chakwera, has made fighting corruption one of his government's priorities.

The arrests today are being hailed by his supporters as a fulfilment of those campaign promises.

This article originally appeared on BBC News

Photo: ACMBW