LILONGWE – President, Lazarus Chakwera, has dismissed Chikosa Silungwe from the position of Attorney-General with immediate effect.
Silungwe, who was appointed in June 2020 as the country’s AG, reportedly had a fallout with President Chakwera following leaking of classified memos earlier this year.
The government went on to launch an investigation into the matter which one government official described as “corruption case” which Chakwera was committed to deal with urgency.
Malawi government press secretary Brian Banda confirmed the dismissal of Dr Silungwe but could not give reasons for the firing.
Solicitor General and Secretary for Justice, Reyneck Matemba also confirmed the sacking of Silungwe saying he has already bid farewell to his workmates.
“I can confirm that the Ministry has been formally notified and the AG has also bid goodbye to officers,” said Matemba.
The Attorney General is the second high official after then Labour minister Ken Kandodo to be relieved of his duties by the president.
Kandodo was axed in April following a COVID-19 funds abuse expose.
Interestingly, Dr Silungwe was a lead lawyer in the Malawi elections challenge in 2019 which provided a catalyst for the removal of then president, Peter Mutharika.
The case was also pushed by Saulos Chilima, a vice president under Mutharika and current deputy of Chakwera.
