Police have apprehended three officials from the Malawi Energy Regulatory Authority (Mera), as the National Police spokesperson James Kadadzera could not disclose what they have been charged with, out of fear of jeopardising investigations that are currently underway.

The arrested individuals are Mera Chief Executive Officer Collins Magalasi, Bright Mbewe from the Procurement Office and the regulator’s spokesperson Patrick Maulidi. The arrest follows a report by the Human Rights Defenders Coalition (HRDC), sent to the Anti-corruption Bureau (ACB) stating that Mera has a fraud case to answer, for the procurement agreement of a new van worth K704 million between Mera and City Motors Limited in 2018.

“I confirm the arrest of the three. However, it’s too early to disclose the reasons for the arrest as we are still investigating.” said Kadadzera. Two weeks ago, the Minister of Energy Newton Kambala emphasized that the current administration wants efficiency and anybody without efficiency will be dismissed. During a tour at the Mera head office in Lilongwe, Kambala is quoted saying “Government will not spare anybody involved in corruption here at Mera or any other public institutions,”.