Fellow Malawians, an important aspect of economic reform in our
country is to stamp out corruption. Corruption is the enemy of growth
and prosperity. It robs the government and the people of Malawi –
especially the poor – of their legitimate right to economic prosperity
by diverting resources away from economic and social development
into the coffers of a few. Therefore there will be zero tolerance of corruption.
I shall . . . ensure swift investigation, prosecution and punishment
of public officers at all levels – and I repeat, at all levels – who
are found guilty of corruption, theft, mismanagement [and] abuse of
power in all its forms. (Mutharika, 24 May 2004)