By Daniel Zimba:
The High Court sitting in Blantyre has announced that it will start hearing the murder case of Dr. Victoria Bobe from Tuesday, July 7, to Friday, July 10.
The court has since directed concerned parties to submit their preliminary applications by Wednesday, April 27, 2026.
High Court Judge Ruth Chinangwa also directed that responses to the applications be filed by Thursday, June 11, 2026.
The court will, thereafter, hear the preliminary application on Tuesday, June 16, before issuing a ruling on Tuesday, June 30, 2026.
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She made these directions yesterday during a virtual hearing, which the media was not allowed to attend.
Judiciary spokesperson Ruth Mputeni confirmed the development to The Daily Times after the hearing.
“The court has directed that notices of appointment should be filed by Friday, April 17, 2026; the State should serve the defence with the case docket by Tuesday, April 21, 2026; and that the defence should peruse the docket by Tuesday, May 12, 2026,” Mputeni said.
At least seven suspects were arrested in December 2025 and are remanded in police custody in connection with Bobe’s death.
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The Malawi Police Service identified the suspects as Raphael Msalamanyama Mano, 35, an ex-police and former intelligence officer from Gaza Province in Mozambique, and Issah Ali, 47, from Mangochi District.
Police also arrested Santos Chamamba, 54, from Blantyre; Maxwell Eliya, 52, from Nsanje; Charles Chikafa, 62, from Zomba; and Peter Chimenya, 50, from Chiradzulu.
Bobe, who until her death was working as consultant at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital in Blantyre and lecturer at Kamuzu University of Health Sciences, was shot dead at her home in Chigumula, Blantyre City, in November last year.
