‘Peter Mutharika, Nicholas Dausi in contempt of court’

Tom Sangala February 23, 2016

317 1 minute read

Estranged Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Regional Governor for the Centre, Frank Katunduli, wants President Peter Mutharika and Head of National Intelligence Bureau (NIB) Nicholas Dausi committed to prison for failing to respect a court order to reinstate him to his position.

Katunduli also wants the DPP to compensate him with over K5 million for maintenance of aparty vehicle as well as payment of K100,000 monthly allocation since July 2013.

The High Court sitting in Lilongwe ruled in May 2013 in a civil case No 300 of 2013 that Katunduli benefits should be restored but the party only gave back a party vehicle registration BP 8669.

The Daily Times has seen two letters written by lawyer Wapona Kita, who was representing Katunduli, addressed to Messrs Sikwese and Co which is representing DPP, Dausi and Mutharika in the case.

“We refer to our letters dated 2nd October, 2015 and 23rd November 2015 to which you had no courtesy of replying to any. This is our third letter to write to you. Kindly take note that if we also do not get your response to this letter of ours within 7 days, we shall proceed enforcing the order of the court in a manner that our client has instructed us to do without further recourse to yourselves,” reads a letter by Kita.

Another letter reads in part: “We note that a default judgment was entered against your client whereby our client was reinstated to the position of Regional Governor for the DPP Central Region. Our client is alive to the fact that the party has since appointed another person to hold the position of Regional Governor which the court bestowed on him.”

But DPP Secretary General, Ecklen Kudontoni, in an interview on Monday challenged Katunduli to produce letters or contracts of conditions of service that he signed with the party to warrant him any compensation.

According to Kudontoni, the party is not in any way moved by the action by Katunduli. He said soon the DPP will take back the party vehicle which Katunduli is using.

“Ask him to show you the contract of condition of service that he signed with the party. The court was told lies at the time and we are not moved. We are going to take that car and he is free to go and complain again,” said Kudontoni.

On his part, however, Katunduli said he believes that Mutharika would have loved to help him but that the President is being ill advised by some people who have surrounded him.

Said Katunduli: “If you cannot live by the dictates of the court that’s contempt, and they are living in contempt as I am talking today. I don’t want to pursue the matter because that’s my President, I like him, he has never wronged me personally but I think the powers around there are dragging him down somehow.”

Lawyer Kita refused to comment, saying he is no longer representing the client.