Financial Crime World

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Malawi’s Asset Recovery Efforts Need a Boost: Experts Urge Integration of Expropriation into Disciplinary and Court Proceedings

Kampala, Malawi - As Malawi continues to grapple with high-level corruption, experts are calling for a comprehensive overhaul of its asset recovery efforts. In a new report, researchers argue that expropriating illicit wealth should be integrated into all forms of disciplinary and court proceedings against corrupt individuals in both public and private sectors.

Recommendations

The report recommends establishing a National Economic Crime Strategy to provide a structure for policy-making and a whole system response. This would include a multi-agency asset-tracing and recovery scheme. Additionally, law enforcement agencies should have sufficient funding to support high-level corruption investigations and prosecutions.

  • Establish integrated teams for investigations and prosecutions among law enforcement agencies, including the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), Financial Intelligence Authority (FIA), and Malawi Police Service.
  • Prioritize resource allocation to ensure an equitable distribution between all government functions.
  • Recognize the importance of ownership in this process and coordinate international development partners’ input with the government of Malawi.

Importance of Institutional Architecture

The report highlights the importance of institutional architecture in tackling high-level corruption. It emphasizes that law enforcement agencies, including the DPP, ACB, FIA, and Malawi Police Service, should work together to establish integrated teams for investigations and prosecutions.

Role of International Development Partners

Experts urge international development partners to coordinate their input with the government of Malawi to avoid undermining the cohesion of the government apparatus. It is essential that we recognize the importance of ownership in this process.

Critical Role of Free Press, Media, and Civil Society

The report also emphasizes the critical role played by free press, media, and civil society in exposing corruption and promoting accountability. Law enforcement agencies and international development partners are urged to support and engage with these pillars of open public debate.

Conclusion

Experts urge that Malawi’s asset recovery efforts be integrated into all forms of disciplinary and court proceedings against corrupt individuals. This would require a comprehensive overhaul of its institutional architecture, resource allocation, and inter-agency cooperation.

Authors

  • Gerhard Anders, Associate Professor at the Centre of African Studies, University of Edinburgh
  • Matthew Page, Associate Fellow, Chatham House, non-resident scholar, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, non-resident fellow, Centre for Democracy and Development, Nigeria
  • Nick Staite, Solicitor-Advocate England and Wales

Funding

The research is funded by the Global Integrity-FCDO Anti-Corruption Evidence Program (2019-2021).