LILONGWE-(MaraviPost-The country’s graft agency Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has announced the re-introduction of the vetting and clearance process for all applications related to the change of ownership of motor vehicles, houses and land, effective 13th November 2025.
According to a press release signed by Acting Director General Gabriel Chembezi, the decision has been made in accordance with Section 10 (1) of the Corrupt Practices Act, which aims to prevent the concealment or disposal of assets obtained through corrupt means.
The bureau stated that before any ownership transfer of vehicles, land or houses takes place, applications must be submitted to the ACB for vetting and clearance.
This measure is designed to ensure that all property transfers are legitimate and transparent.
The ACB previously discontinued this process on 6th August 2021 but the bureau said recent developments and concerns about the possible misuse of public resources and proceeds of crime have necessitated its reinstatement.
“The ACB wishes to inform the public that a need has arisen that has necessitated the re-introduction of the vetting and clearance process,” reads part of the statement.
Chembezi noted that the bureau has already communicated this development to several key government institutions including the Department of Road Traffic and Safety Services (DRTSS), the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, the Malawi Housing Corporation and all Municipal, City and District Councils.
The ACB has further assured Malawians that the vetting process will be handled swiftly to avoid unnecessary delays in service delivery.
“The ACB will conduct the vetting and clearance processes within four working days of receipt of submissions,” the statement said.
The bureau has urged public officials from the listed institutions, as well as members of the general public, to fully cooperate with the ACB to ensure smooth implementation of the reintroduced procedure.
In the statement, the bureau also cautioned against any attempts to interfere with or frustrate the vetting process, emphasizing that such acts would be considered a form of corruption.
“We appeal to public officials of the above mentioned institutions as well as members of the public to cooperate fully with the ACB in this exercise and desist from indulging in any form of corrupt practices aimed at frustrating the process,” Chembezi said.
The vetting and clearance system is expected to strengthen the country’s efforts in the fight against corruption, particularly in tracking the ownership of assets that may have been acquired through illicit means.
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