Four senior officials from the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) were summoned by the Fiscal Police in Lilongwe on Tuesday for questioning over alleged financial mismanagement at the Commission.

Those summoned include MEC Chief Elections Officer Andrew Mpesi, Director of Finance Khumbo Phiri, Deputy Chief Executive Officer responsible for Finance and Administration Andrew Kankwalala, and Director of Human Resources Dr. Yacinto Chikapa.

They were accompanied by MEC Chairperson Justice Annabel Mtalimanja, who was not among those summoned.

The development follows a recent National Audit Office probe which uncovered alleged financial mismanagement at the Commission.

The Fiscal Police also raided the Commission’s offices on July 25 as part of investigations into the matter.

Speaking briefly to Zodiak after returning to the Commission’s offices, MEC Chief Elections Officer Andrew Mpesi confirmed that they had returned but declined to provide further details.

“Yes, we are back at the office,” said Mpesi.

Zodiak understands that the senior MEC officials later held a meeting at the Commission’s offices.

Mpesi’s lawyer, Victor Chimtolo, has confirmed that the summons relate to reports of alleged financial mismanagement contained in a recent audit report circulating on social media.

Chimtolo says the summons did not involve any arrest, adding that the police informed the MEC officials that investigations into the matter are still ongoing.

“No arrest has been made and they are back to their office. They just went there for questioning, nothing more,” said Chimtolo.

Earlier, Attorney General Frank Mbeta says the Malawi Police Service is within its mandate to investigate any criminal matter that may arise from an audit report at any time.

In a letter dated July 29 addressed to the Inspector General of Police and copied to the Chief Secretary, Acting Director General of the Anti-Corruption Bureau and MEC Chairperson Justice Annabel Mtalimanja, Mbeta says there is no provision in the Public Audit Act that bars the Malawi Police Service from carrying out such investigations.

“There is no requirement in the said Public Audit Act that the Police can only investigate after the persons mentioned in the report have been given an opportunity to respond to issues raised,” reads part of the letter.

“In view of the foregoing, I advise the Commission, in copy herein, to cooperate with the Police or any law enforcement agency as they are carrying out their independent investigations. Obstructing law enforcement agencies from carrying out their legal mandate is a criminal offence and we all need not be reminded that no one is above the law,” added Mbeta.