By Mercy Matonga:
The Legal Affairs Committee has set Tuesday next week as the day it will hear from Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) on the issue of the discontinuance of corruption and other cases.
Committee chairperson Peter Dimba confirmed the development to The Daily Times, further indicating that DPP Masauko Chamkakala will formally appear before the committee to shed light on why the State dropped cases of several suspects, including Vice President Saulos Chilima.
Dimba said committee members were prepared and looking forward to meeting the DPP.
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“We are prepared to meet with the DPP on 21 May and, right now, I cannot say much because we first want to hear his side of the story,” Dimba said.
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He added that the committee would not only seek answers on Chilima’s case but will also want to hear about other cases that have been concluded through the office of the DPP.
Currently, there are questions regarding recent actions of the DPP’s office in withdrawing some high-profile criminal proceedings, such as cases against Mapeto, Paramount Holdings and the Cement Gate involving businessperson Mahmed Chaffe Chunara.
Recently, the DPP officially discharged Chilima from his corruption prosecution.
In another development, civil society organisations (CSOs), led by Youth and Society (Yas), have written the Parliamentary Committee on Legal Affairs regarding the delayed tabling of two judicial bills and DPP’s discontinuance of corruption cases.
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The letter follows recent calls from the Malawi Law Society (MLS) on the need to expedite the tabling of the judicial bills and the decision by the DPP to discontinue several corruption cases.
MLS has joined forces with the CSOs to hasten the replacement of the Judicature Administration Act with a new legal framework aimed at improving the administration of judicial services.
The letter, signed by Yas Director Charles Kajoloweka, requests engagement with the Legal Affairs Committee to provide insights into the Constitution (Amendment) Bill of 2023 and the Judicial Service Administration Bill of 2023, whose timely enactment is believed to have a positive impact on judicial accountability and expand access to justice for most Malawians.
