Bon Kalindo and Edward Kambanje on Saturday held a joint press briefing in Lilongwe, urging that corruption allegations against senior public officials be supported by credible evidence and addressed through the courts.
Speaking to journalists, the two leaders expressed concern over what they described as a growing culture of unverified accusations in the country.
While acknowledging that corruption remains a serious national challenge, they cautioned against the use of hearsay and speculation to tarnish reputations or undermine public institutions.
“Let us not forget one of the simplest and most important principles of justice, a person is innocent until proven guilty,” Kalindo said. He criticized suggestions from some quarters that individuals previously investigated should automatically be barred from holding public office.
Kambanje said Malawi’s political discourse is increasingly shaped by allegations, some of which lack substantiation. “If we adopt the logic that anyone ever accused is unfit to serve, we will soon run out of leaders,” he said. “In fact, being investigated and cleared can give someone a deeper understanding of how the system works.”
The pair warned that compelling officials to resign over old or unproven claims would set a dangerous precedent, arguing that such a practice could enable political rivals to weaponize accusations, fueling instability and diverting attention from public service delivery.
“Corruption is real and must be fought,” Kalindo said. “But integrity does not mean never being accused, it is reflected in how one responds when accusations arise.”
They called on whistleblowers and media institutions with credible evidence to pursue cases through the courts rather than rely solely on public opinion.
Concluding the briefing, Kalindo and Kambanje urged Malawians to foster a culture of accountability grounded in transparency, fairness, and due process.
“Before demanding resignations, we must decide whether we want judgments based on evidence and the rule of law, or on public anger and incomplete narratives,” they said.
