Issa Njauju murder angers donors
Members of the diplomatic community have appealed to investigating agencies to speed up probe into the murder of Director of Finance and Administration at the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) Issa Njauju.
They made the call yesterday afternoon when they went to the ACB offices to show solidarity with the ACB following Njauju’s death.
British High Commissioner Michael Nevin, who spoke on behalf of the six-member delegation, said speedy investigations will help prevent future occurrences of such acts.
“It is important that this particular investigation is concluded because this is a road to impunity. If people feel they can get away with the murder, a heinous murder such as this, then it will spread. It is important to send a message that this is unacceptable in Malawi,” he said.
He added: “I think I can call upon the public who may have some information, and the police have asked for this, to come forward to the police to help them in the investigations. By doing so, you send a big blow to those who think they are going to get away with undermining the system through bribery or intimidation.”
Nevin said the international community appreciates the work the ACB does: “We, the international donor community, appreciate the work of the ACB. We express our strong sympathy with, and support for the Bureau in the aftermath of the murder of your colleague, Issa Njauju. Our thoughts are also with his family.”
Other members of the delegation included US Ambassador Virginia Palmer, and representatives from Norway, Ireland, European Union (EU) Delegation and Germany.
Njauju was found dead in Lilongwe on July 4.
ACB Director General, Lucas Kondowe said employees at the Bureau are yet to completely recover from the shock.
“It has been tough. As you know Issa was one of our own. He was a senior director…Obviously we are all in a state of shock. Different people have been affected differently others are still not back to normal. It’s going to take us time. But we are getting better every day,” he said.
He said measures are being taken to improve the security at the bureau.
“We have had a lot more visible armed security but that’s in the short term. In the long term, we are working with government to review security apparatus of the institution and all our staff. I think in a week’s time we should have a paper to present to government for consideration,” Kondowe said.
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