Malawi's President Lazarus Chakwera has stripped his Vice-President Saulos Chilima of all his delegated powers after the latter was named in a $150m (£123m) corruption scandal involving government contracts.
The vice-president has not yet responded to the allegations.
A report by the country's Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) named 53 current and former officials as having received money from British-Malawian businessman Zuneth Sattar between 2017 and 2021, the president said.
This is in relation to 16 contracts that the Malawi Police Service and the Malawi Defence Force awarded to five companies belonging to Mr Sattar.
The officials named in the report include the vice-president and the head of police - who has been sacked.
But Malawi's law does not allow the president to sack or suspend his vice-president as the latter is an elected official.
"The best I can do for now, which is what I have decided to do, is to withhold from his office any delegated duties while waiting for the bureau to substantiate its allegations against him," the president said in a national address on Tuesday.
Mr Chakwera joined forces with Mr Chilima to defeat incumbent Peter Mutharika in 2020 presidential elections. The pair had promised to fight corruption in government.
Latest Stories
-
EPL: Arsenal beat Bournemouth to go four points clear of Man City
6 mins -
Cecilia Dapaah’s case: What’s happening now is a clear indication of cover-up – Amaliba
7 mins -
I felt rejected by Ghanaians – AY Poyoo
21 mins -
Terrorist cell of five Daesh supporters dismantled in Essaouira
54 mins -
My former manager deleted my songs from streaming platforms – AY Poyoo
1 hour -
Afronita and Abigail get standing ovation at Britain’s Got Talent
1 hour -
Accused in murder of a military officer in Kasoa remanded
1 hour -
OSP cleared Cecilia Dapaah of corruption after investigations, not AG’s office – Godfred Dame
2 hours -
OSP only gave EOCO a narrow remit to investigate money laundering – A-G
2 hours -
Ghana’s Osman Bukari wins second successive Serbian Super League title with Red Star
2 hours -
GES bemoans growing tattooing, multiple-piercing, and bleaching among pupils
3 hours -
GRA-SML deal: Majority kicks against publication of KPMG audit report
3 hours -
GOIL introduces Super XP to give consumers more affordable options
3 hours -
Scottish Premiership: Mathew Anim Cudjoe and Dundee United secure promotion after Championship win
4 hours -
Leicester City trigger buy option for Fatawu Issahaku
5 hours