President Lazarus Chakwera has re-appointed Hilary Chilomba as performing director common of the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), regardless of his six-month tenure expiring two days in the past.

This transfer comes amidst an ongoing investigation by the Ombudsman into the shortlisting course of for the ACB director common place, wherein Chilomba and Counsel Oscar Taulo are implicated for allegedly missing the requisite {qualifications} and expertise.

According to Presidential Press Secretary Anthony Kasunda, Chakwera’s choice goals to permit the Ombudsman’s investigation to conclude.

However, this re-appointment raises questions concerning the legality of Chilomba’s prolonged tenure, because the Corrupt Practices Act stipulates that an performing director common can’t serve for greater than six months.

The ACB has been with no substantive director common since Martha Chizuma’s contract expired on May 31, 2024.

Chilomba’s preliminary appointment as performing director common was made in June, and his six-month tenure was set to run out in November.

Malawi Law Society president Patrick Mpaka emphasised that the ACB’s performing director common can’t serve past six months, citing Section 6(B)(7) of the Corrupt Practices Act.

Mpaka argued that failing to nominate a substantive director common on time and permitting an performing director common to serve for greater than six months would cripple the ACB and undermine the battle in opposition to corruption.

The re-appointment of Chilomba has sparked considerations concerning the authorities’s dedication to combating corruption and the potential penalties of this choice on the ACB’s operations.