By Mercy Matonga:
The Public Appointments Committee (Pac) of Parliament says it is not aware that Financial Intelligence Authority (FIA) Director General (DG) Jean Piriminta has been removed from her position.
Piriminta, who has been serving as FIA DG, was appointed in 2022 by former president Lazarus Chakwera and was confirmed by Pac in May 2022.
Piriminta
Recent information indicates that Piriminta has been sent back to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), where she has reportedly been reassigned as Director of Financial Crimes.
However, Pac, through its chairperson Felix Njawala, told The Daily Times that the committee was not aware of the development.
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“We are not aware and are hearing it from you. We will communicate with the SPC [Secretary to the President and Cabinet],” Njawala said.
Office of the President and Cabinet spokesperson Focus Maganga asked for ample time when we sent him a questionnaire on the issue.
“I will get back to you,” Maganga said.
FIA spokesperson Patience Lunda also declined to comment on the matter.
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“No comment from us,” Lunda said.
Operations of FIA in Malawi are primarily governed by the Financial Crimes Act (FCA) of 2017, which replaced the Money Laundering, Proceeds of Serious Crime and Terrorist Financing Act.
To protect the FIA from political interference, the law sets strict criteria on how a DG can be removed before the end of their term.
Section 8 (Vacation from Office) outlines the grounds under which the DG shall vacate office. These include resignation—with three months’ written notice to the President—, conviction of an offence involving fraud or dishonesty, and bankruptcy.
Section 186 of the Constitution states: “The Public Appointments Committee shall have the power to approve or confirm appointments and removals from public offices as may be prescribed by this Constitution or an Act of Parliament.”
In practice, if the President moves to remove the DG, Pac must review the evidence of “misconduct” or “incompetence” to ensure the decision is not politically motivated.
If Pac refuses to confirm the removal, the DG technically remains in office.
