Corruption accused Malawi Vice President Saulos Klaus Chilima has reportedly quit in a huff saying it was the moral thing to do.
In a statement circulated on social media on Tuesday, Chilima, who was recently arrested, brought before a court, and released on bail, said he was taking a moral stand in line with the Malawi constitution.
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“I am currently burdened by six corruption charges from which I must prove my innocence through legal means,” said the statement, whose authenticity was yet to be confirmed.
Reports from Malawi suggest the statement was a fake planted by opposition party activists.
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“It is a fact that my role as vice president is purely a constitutional matter because I was mandated by Malawians through a credible electoral process in 2020,” said the statement addressed to “fellow Malawians”.
The statement continued: “However, my moral urge is that sticking to a constitutional office when I have six counts of corruption on me compromises both my delivery of duty and my standing in society.
“I have, therefore, arrived at a painful decision to relinquish my constitutional mandate as vice president to allow the due legal process to take its full course.”
But the statement said Chilima was “hopeful that once I am cleared from all the six corruption charges, the same arms of government (Executive and Legislature) will do the needful to reinstate me into the executive arm and allow me to see through my constitutional mandate in the office of vice president”.
All eyes are on Chilima to see if he will confirm or deny the statement announcing his resignation was his.
