Education officers in for corruption | Theresa Chapulapula

Friday, 11 December 2009
Source: The Daily Times (Malawi)


Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) has arrested five officers from the Education Ministry on allegations that they were demanding kickbacks from private school owners for them to re-inspect and re-open the closed schools.

A statement from ACB signed by the Bureau’s spokesperson Egrita Ndala states that the incident happened during the school inspection exercise which was being carried out by Ministry of Education last month.

The five are Edna Manyungwa, Harold Chigaru and Ethel Mitawa who are Principal Education Methods Advisors (Pema), Senior Education Methods Advisor (Sema) Steve Tambala and a driver Ulaya Machilika.

Ndala said the five are from the South East Education Division.

She said they are suspected to have received K6, 000.00 each for the Methods advisors and K2, 000.00 for the driver from the Authorities of Zomba Baptist Primary School.

“They will be charged with two counts of corrupt practices by public officer contrary to Section 24(1) of the Corrupt Practices Act,” she said.

The suspects were released on police bail and they would appear in court on a date to be set by the court

The Ministry closed 861 schools that did not meet the minimum standards out of the 1, 122 inspected schools.

The closed schools were informed of their shortfalls and were directed not to open until they rectify the shortfalls and are certified by the Ministry.