Mphwiyo Shooting Case: Kumwembe Picks Lutepo, Drops Mwadiwa As Witness

Kumwembe

Lutepo (middle) to testify 

Man considered ‘chief cashgate convict’ Oswald Lutepo has been added to the list of the first accused in the attempted murder trial of former budget director, Paul Mphwiyo and drop former secretary to treasury Radson Mwadiwa who was ready on Thursday to give testimony.

It was disclosed this 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 scheduled for 27th up to 29th January 2016.

Lutepo (left) with Joyce Banda

The court has since directed that Lutepo will be the first witness to testify during the next sitting days of the court. 

Director of Public Prosecution, Mary Kachale informed the court after both parties had a brief closed meeting that the defense has decided to drop Mwadiwa as witness and instead to call Oswald Lutepo.

In the day, Kumwembe paraded, Chief Secretary, George Mkondiwa and Mercy Kumbatira from Reserve Bank of Malawi.

Mkondiwa testimony dwelled much on third accused, former Justice Minister, Raphael Kasambara’s tasks on 13th September 2013, the day Paul Mphwiyo was shot and on 14th September 2013.

During cross-examination with Kumwembe, the Chief Secretary said on 13th September 2013, while working as Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, he was at State House attending to the meeting on Lake Malawi mediation. He said on that day the country had received mediation leaders; former president of South Africa, Thabo Mbeki and former Mozambican President Joaquim Chissano. 

He indicated that the meeting which began at around 3pm and ended for an hour or so, was attended by former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mganda Chiume and third accused, Raphael Kasambara who was then Justice Minister. He also said the following day, he went to Salima for a follow up meeting and same Ministers attended the meeting which ended at around 3pm because they took a late lunch.

During cross examination with third accused, Raphael Kasambara, Mr. Mkondiwa had replied "I will be surprised" when asked if someone would claim that on 13th September, 2013 Kasambara was home meeting with Paul Mphwiyo at around 4 or 5 pm. He further added that it would be surprising if someone claim that Kasambara’s son was on 14th September 2013 in Lilongwe at around 3pm since he saw that child in Salima with Kasambara.

Mkondiwa testimony further dispel testimony made by Kasambara’s former nanny who told court last year that on 13th September, 2013, Kasambara was home at around 4 or 5mp together with Paul Mphwiyo and that the following day, she went to Lilongwe Golf Club at noon hours with the child of Kasambara. 

After, Mkondiwa, came another witness, Mercy Kumbatira from Reserve bank of Malawi who gave testimony which is quite similar to what an economist from Ministry of Finance, David Jenya had presented on Wednesday.

The court has been adjourned to 27th January, 2016 where court is expected to meet for the next three days.

It is also expected that during the three day sitting, former cabinet Minister and politician, Brown James Mpinganjira will also appear to testify.

Meanwhile Judge, Justice Michael Mtambo has directed that the court will conclude the defense trial of McDonald Kumwembe and enter defense of second accused, Pika Manondo. 

He urged both parties to be “focused” and be “Straight to the point and not going around” issues.

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.

Mphwiyo Shooting Case: Mphwiyo Appointment Came With Surprises-Jenya

An economist from Ministry of Finance, Daniel Jenya has told Lilongwe High Court on Wednesday that he noted excessive Government expenditure beginning first month of Paul Mphwiyo appointment as budget director which led to internal investigations of the cause.

Jenya is another witness of first accused, McDonald Kumwembe a suspected shooter in the ongoing case of attempted murder of Paul Mphiwyo. Kumwembe is answering the case together with former Justice Minister, Raphael Kasambara and Pika Manondo.

The witness told the court that in 2013, he was working in the Ministry at Macroeconomic Policy Unit where he was among others, responsible for, compilation, analysis fiscal tables.

When asked by the first accused on what happened immediately when Paul was appointed as budget director, Jenya said he observed unusual rise in the Government monthly expenditure of below K40 billion exceeding levels in months of July and August alone which raised eyebrows of officials from Ministry of Finance.

He said the expenditure in the month of July unexpectedly went up from below normal expenditure to 55 billion while the month of August it went up to K75 billion.

He testified that, he had at one point spoke to Paul Mphwiyo of the development but his response seem he was as well surprised, but, was quick to question why there was no inflation if Government expenditure had exceeded its ceiling between those months.

He said this forced officials including those from Reserve bank of Malawi, Treasury and Ministry of Finance to hold several meetings in order to determine the cause.

It was through one of the meetings he said, where he learnt that there were huge payments made to the Malawi Defense Force (MDF) and during that meeting Mphwiyo acknowledged such expenditure a development which did not only surprise him knowing that the same Mphwiyo had earlier expressed ignorance of where the expenditure came from but as well that such expenditure was never budgeted for.

Jenya said he learnt from the meeting that the MDF expenditure was for the procurement of equipments for Peace Keeping mission and arms. 

However, he pointed out that the meeting agreed that the RBM would send the Treasury and Accountant general, images of cheques above K50 million for the accountant general to reconcile with their expenditures. But he said the images were provided the following day of the meeting and such reconciliation was never done and that the meeting had also raised the issue of porous financial system.

Jenya said he noted from the images of cheques that there were huge payments from Office of the President and Cabinet (OPC) to International Procurement Services and that in Malawi Defence Force there was several cheques printed on the same dates to the same supplier.

He also told court that at one point it came to be known in the meetings’ that even the Ministry of Information had exceeded its expenditure from appropriated K307 million to K5.3 billion between July and early September.

He said Mphwiyo was shot as the investigations into the expenditure were continuing.

Jenya said he grew suspicious of Paul Mphwiyo appointment as budget director in May for the subsequent immediate and unusual enormous public appraisal about him through media articles yet the post is a low profile.

He also told Court that it surprised him to hear from radio that President Joyce Banda had publicly defended Paul Mphwiyo by pronouncing that the young budget director was possibly shot because his assailants were enraged by his actions of trying hard to seal all financial loopholes in Government, a statement Jenya believes should have either been made by Mphwiyo’s office or the ministry of information.

The second part of the testimony was heard in camera as the Prosecution deemed part of the testimony as sensitive since it involved issues of tenders of supplying arms to Malawi Defense Force.

Another Government officer who happened to be Jenya's boss Mr. Juwawo also his testimony was heard in camera.

Mozambique, Malawi We Are One People- Gune

The Mozambican Government says there is strong bilateral relations with Malawi and that the two Governments will continue working together.

The Mozambican High Commissioner to Malawi, Ambassador Jeorge David Gune made the remarks after presenting his letters of credence to State President Peter Mutharika on Tuesday, 12th January.

Ambassador Gune said their meeting with Mutharika held in camera, discussed that Malawi and Mozambique are one people and wished good bilateral relations to continue.

He also mentioned that the two countries will ensure continued interest in total support and working together.

Mutharika Angered With Corruption At MEC As Mbendera Tries To Fire-fight Allegations

Mutharika shaking hands with Mbendera

Malawi Electoral Commission Commissioner’s audience with President Peter Mutharika on Tuesday reached to a peak when the State President expressed his displeasure with reports that some MEC Commissioners have embezzled funds.

MEC Commissioners had an audience with President Peter Mutharika at Kamuzu Palace on Tuesday 12th January 2015 where the commission made a formal presentation of 2014 Tripartite Election Report. 

Mutharika did not mince words over alleged K1.6 billion looted at MECM “Mr. Chairman, whilst my Government is ready and willing to support the Commission, I am very concerned by reports of financial mismanagement and lack of probity within the ranks of the Commission which have been brought to my attention from time to time.” he said

“It is important that independence and accountability go hand in hand. Your credibility as Commissioners gets eroded by the persistent reports we read concerning lack of financial probity within the Commission. That in turn does very little to inspire confidence in Malawians who offer themselves to run for Public Office if the men and women who must make a final decision regarding their fate have doubtful credibility”

Mutharika therefore appealed to the Commission “to address and resolve all issues of concern in a manner which is transparent so that nobody harbours any doubt regarding your credibility as Electoral Commissioners.”

However, speaking in an interview immediately when the meeting ended, Mbendera said the issue was blown out of proportion and that those who alleged any mismanagement of funds at the institution lacked evidence.

Mbendera said the President was speaking of what people are continuously saying on the matter but “It is not true that there was massive looting” at MEC since appointment of the current Commissioners.

“We are and we were able to account for every allegations made by auditors” said while adding “There was no money lost at MEC”

Government, CCAP Blantyre Synod Bond Unbreakable

President Peter Mutharika has assured that good relation between the Church of the Central Africa Presbyterian (CCAP) of Blantyre Synod and his Government will not cease because it benefits the lives of people in the country.

Mutharika was speaking on Tuesday at Kamuzu Palace in Lilongwe when the CCAP of Blantyre Synod was introducing to him the newly Synod elected leadership as well as Management Board that includes Secretary General and the Moderator.

“Let me assure the new leadership that Government will do its best to make sure that the relationship that has existed between the CCAP Blantyre Synod and Government will continue for the betterment of the lives of our People” guaranteed, Mutharika

He continued “The Church’s relationship with Government is very vital in finding concrete solutions to the needs of our People regardless of their belief. Together, we provide our people with education, food, health, water and sanitation and empowerment services, among others. We are partners in development. And together, we will do more.”

Mutharika has called upon the faithful Christians of Blantyre Synod to be obedient and loyal to their Leadership, and remain united so that their Leaders can better fulfil their responsibilities as the true servants of Go.

Likewise, the President also called upon the new leadership to continue nurturing the Faith of their Christians “This is important because with Faith everything is possible. And Faith is beyond Church. When people have faith in God, they have faith in themselves; they believe in themselves. They believe in their capabilities; and they work hard. They become people of integrity; and they become patriotic. This is what will make Malawi progress”

In his remarks, new Blantyre Synod General Secretary Alex Benson Maulana said the Synod commits to continue playing its prophetic role and advisory role to the Government of the day if given space. 

“We shall try whatever we can to engage with the leadership and the Government of the day as development partners.” He said and further assured the President that the Synod will continue to render its’ its moral, spiritual and social support as partners in development while maintaining their prophetic role.

Maulana also told Mutharika that the synod plans to establish a University and also establish a water bottling plant as a way of generating revenue for the church.

The CCAP Blantyre Synod also commended President Mutharika for strength and Courage to manage this nation without any donor support since he took over government up to now “You have our support and we shall continue to pray for your success towards greater heights as long as the lives citizens of this nation are uplifted.” Assured Maulana

New office bearers of Blantyre Synod were elected during the 30th Synod Biennial Assembly which took place from 24th -28th August, 2015.

During the interface with the President, the Synod introduced its Moderator and vice Moderator, Rev. Robson Chimkwezule and Edna Navia respectively and General Secretary, Alex Benson Maulana.

The meeting with the President was the Synod’s tradition and practice, that soon after any Biennial Assemblies they book appointment with Head of State to present an update on some issues of national interest deliberated during assemblies and to introduce the newly elected Synod Leadership.

The Synod and the President also spoke in Camera on issues of national interests.