Mphwiyo Shooting Case: Court Failing To Trace Brown Mpinganjira Home In Mulanje

The scheduled appearance of court witness, Evangelist Brown James Mpinganjira to testify on conspiracy and attempted murder trial of former budget director Paul Mphwiyo will not be possible this week as court says, they are failing to trace the permanent residence of him in Mulanje where they can hand him court summon.

One of the Court reporters told Judge Michael Mtambo that they attempted in vain to locate home of the former Mulanje Central legislature there in Mulanje district.

Former Cabinet Minister also former Vice President of Peoples Party (PP) in the South, Mpinganjira is wanted by court following his naming as one of then cabinet ministers of Dr. Joyce Banda who warned Mphwiyo that some irate individuals who were forcing him to authorise dubious payments have numbered his days to ten if he  continues to refuse to bow down to their demands.

Brown Mpinganjira matter also brought legal argument between Prosecution and Defense which took some minutes before Judge Michael Mtambo dismissed the conversation saying he was to make a ruling on the same.

Actually, the state were of the view that it was not proper for the defense to interfere with Court witness when third accused Raphael Kasambara told the court that he got a note from Brown Mpinganjira informing him that he has never received court summons.

But Kasambara maintained that there was never flouting of any legal procedure for receiving a note from the court witness.

The matter on Mpinganjira came just after man considered as "Chief" Cashgate convict, Oswald Lutepo had finished to testify as last witness of the first accused, McDonald Kumwembe.

Lutepo pictured with Dr. Joyce Banda

Some of major highlights in Oswald Lutepo testimony were  that former Deputy Inspector General of Malawi Police, Nelson Bophani forced him to change his statement recorded by police to one which could have implicated Raphael Kasambara as one who masterminded cashgate.

However, Lutepo denied that the former police IG had forced him to implicate Kasambara on issue of Paul Mphwiyo shooting.

Lutepo told first accused McDonal Kumwembe during cross-examination in chief that after his arrest he told police everything of his knowledge pertaining to cashgate.

But he said the deputy police IG, Bophani at one point arranged the meeting at Zomba Prison between him and the second accused Pika Manondo, so that the two should come up with framed claim that cashgate was masterminded by Kasambara but they both refused to do so.

He also denied that to the best of his knowledge and his involvement in cashgste, that he had transacted with Raphael Kasambara any business which was related to cashgate.

Asked about Paul Mphwiyo shooting, Lutepo told court that he was the person who had informed former President Dr. Joyce Banda of Paul Mphwiyo shooting just like he had done to the rest of Mphwiyo's friends.

He also explained that his best friend Paul Mphwiyo had in his house a desktop which was connected to the cctv camera's which were placed out side his house.

Now, second accused, Pika Manondo has entered his defense which will be continued this morning starting at 10 am.

Mphwiyo Shooting Case: Lutepo Testimony Today

Case of Attempted murder of former Budget Director Paul Mphwiyo continues sitting this morning with testimony from Oswald Lutepo, man considered as ‘chief cashgate convict’

Lutepo is already in court sitting on his wheelchair and his appearance to day in court follows first accused, McDonald Kumwembe choice to pick Oswald Lutepo and dropping of former secretary to treasury Radson Mwadiwa as his witness.

Kumwembe on 14th January this year dropped Mwadiwa saying testimony of him had been addressed by other witnesses 

It was disclosed on that Thursday morning when the Court resumed sitting after a short break that Radson Mwadiwa who was outside the court waiting to enter the court room to testify would not do so as the first accused, McDonald Kumwembe had changed his mind and instead decided to call Lutepo during the next sitting of court which begins today 27th up to 29th January 2016.

The court directed that Lutepo will be the first witness to testify today.

Former minister and evangelist, Brown James Mpinganjira, who also failed to give testimony in the ongoing case is expected to give his testimony.

Last court sitting, Mpinganjira failed to testify because court summons which were sent by the registrars’ office never reached his hands.

Mpinganira, former People’s Party (PP) Vice President for the Southern Region was expected to stand in court before Justice Michael Mtambo to inform the court what he knows about the attempted murder of former budget director Paul Mphwiyo in September 2013. Judge presiding the ongoing case, Justice Michael Mtambo directed court that following evidence, it was necessary to call Mpinganjira whose name has been mentioned through ought. 

Victim, Paul Mphwiyo was first to name him when he told court that prior to his shooting former minister of information, Mpinganjira alerted him that people who are threatening him to make dubious payments had given him ultimatum of 10 days to live if he continues not to comply.

Former minister, Raphael Kasambara, Pika Manondo and McDonald Kumwembe are answering the charges of attempted and conspiracy to commit murder.

Mphwiyo Shooting Case: Mpinganjira Not Ready To Testify As His Summon Delayed

Brown Mpinganjira

On Thursday, Brown James Mpinganjira, failed to give testimony in the ongoing attempted murder case of former budget director Paul Mphwiyo because summons which were sent by the registrars’ office never reached his hands.

Mpinganira, former People’s Party (PP) Vice President for the Southern Region was expected to stand in court before Justice Michael Mtambo to inform the court what he knows about the attempted murder of former budget director Paul Mphwiyo in September 2013.

Judge presiding the ongoing case, Justice Michael Mtambo directed court that following evidence, it was necessary to call Mpinganjira whose name has been mentioned through ought. Victim, Paul Mphwiyo was first to name him when he told court that prior to his shooting former minister of information, Mpinganjira alerted him that people who are threatening him to make dubious payments had given him ultimatum of 10 days to live if he continues not to comply.

On Thursday morning, the former Mulanje Central Legislature, Mpinganjira, actually presented himself to court and held closed door meeting with both parties where he informed them that he never came to testify because court summons never reached him therefore he needed more time to spend with his lawyer since he was not ready to testify.

Chibwana

“What happened was that there was some kind of communication breakdown.” Explains Enock Chibwana, state advocate, “The one who was sent to Blantyre to give him the summon was "told that Mr. Mpinganjira lives in Mulanje and he did not travel to Mulanje to hand him the summon. Unfortunately, this information was never relayed to the court”

However, Chibwana said “Had he relayed the information that there was need to travel to Mulanje we would have done so. But since there is proof that he wasn’t served with the summons it is in the interest of justice that he should prepare himself before he takes stand”

 

Director of Public Prosecution, Mary Kachale informed court after the closed meeting with Mpinganjira that he will testify in the next sitting of court scheduled for  27, 28 and 29 January, 2016.

Later, in the day, Chief Secretary to the Government, George Mkondiwa who testified around ministerial engagements which Kasambara had starting on 13th September 2013 the day Paul Mphwiyo was shot and on 14th of September.

Mkondiwa replied to Kasambara during cross examination that "it would be surprising" to hear someone stating that on 13th September Kasambara was with Mphwiyo around 3pm following tesimony last year by his former nanny who claimed that on 13th September Kasambara was with Paul Mphwiyo who was later shot that night.

Later, the court heard testimony from Mercy Mwadiwa from Reserve Bank whose testimony concur with that made on yesterday by an economist Daniel Jenya that there was investigative meetings early September on suspicious rise in government expenditure immediately Paul Mphwiyo was appointed as budget director.

Paul Mphwiyo was shot the night of 13th September, 2013 while serving as budget director.

This unearthed massive plunder of public resources which led to number of arrests of public officers and business gurus.

Former Minister of Justice, Raphael Kasambara, is answering Conspiracy while two others, McDonald Kumwembe and Pika Manondo are both answering the same charge together with attempted murder.

Mphwiyo Shooting Case: Mpinganjira Fails To Appear In LL Court

Brown James Mpinganjira, has failed to appear before Lilongwe High Court Office to testify on attempted murder case of former budget director Paul Mphwiyo.

Court ruled to subpoenaed Mpinganjira following testimonies which are connecting him to the case. Victim, Mphwiyo said Mpinganjira had sent him early warning of plans to murder him.

At the beginning of the case this morning, however, Director of Public Prosecution, Mary Kachale informed court that Mpinganjira will not make it to the court because he did not receive the summon.

She said the office of the registrar acknowledged that they had sent the summon very late and that the registrar had not received acknowledgement of receipt of the summon from Mpinganjira.

Kachale said Mpinganjira will testify in the next sitting of court expected  from 27, 28 and 29 January, 2016

Mkondiwa

Later, Chief Secretary to the Government, George Mkondiwa who testified around ministerial engagements which Kasambara had starting on 13th September 2013 the day Paul Mphwiyo was shot and on 14th of September.

Mkondiwa replied to Kasambara during cross examination that it would be surprising to hear someone stating that on 13th September Kasambara was with Mphwiyo around 3pm.

Later, the court heard testimony from Mercy Mwadiwa from Reserve Bank whose testimony concur with that made on yesterday by an economist Daniel Jenya that there was investigative meetings early September on suspicious rise in government expenditure.

Mphwiyo Shooting Case: Former Minister Mpinganjira Appearing At LL Court Today

Mpinganjira

Brown James Mpinganira, former People’s Party (PP) Vice President for the Southern Region is appearing at Lilongwe High Court today in the ongoing case of attempted murder of former budget director Paul Mphwiyo.

The former Mulanje Central Legislature who also served as cabinet Minister for previous regimes was subpoenaed by the court when Judge Presiding the Case, Justice Michael Mtambo said Mpinganjira was needed in court according to the evidence being presented in the case.

Now the former PP member, Mpinganjira, was named by Paul Mphwiyo that he was then cabinet minister who warned him that his days have been numbered if he does not wish to comply to demands being made by those pressuring him to make dubious payments.

Unlike, yesterday court proceedings where some witnesses were held in camera since they involved issues of Malawi Defense Force equipments, Mpinganjira’s witness will be in an open court says Director of Public Prosecution Mary Kachale.

Paul Mphwiyo was shot the night of 13th September, 2013 while serving as budget director.

This unearthed massive plunder of public resources which led to number of arrests of public officers and business gurus.

Former Minister of Justice, Raphael Kasambara, is answering Conspiracy while two others, McDonald Kumwembe and Pika Manondo are both answering the same charge together with attempted murder.