State concludes parading witnesses in perjury case

By Wezzie Gausi:

The State Monday paraded its last witnesses in a case where Malawi Electoral Commission (Mec) Warehouse Manager Deverson Makwete is being accused of lying under oath during hearing of the May 21 2019 presidential election case.

In 2019, the High Court sitting as a Constitutional Court ordered that Makwete be investigated for allegedly lying under oath when he told the court that Mec’s Central Region logbooks were locked up in Parliament warehouses.

However, the materials were later found in Mec warehouses.

The State paraded eight witnesses Monday.

State Lawyer Pilirani Masanjala said he was satisfied with the evidence which witnesses tendered in court.

“After hearing what the witnesses said in court, we, as the State, will be making our submissions to the court,” Masanjala said.

Defence lawyer Gilbert Khonyongwa said he was happy with the pace of the case.

“We are grateful that the case has moved at a fast pace,” Khonyongwa said.

Senior Resident Magistrate Florence Msekandiana has adjourned the case to October 22 2021, when the court will give its ruling on whether the accused has a case to answer.

The State paraded witnesses from Mec, Parliament and Malawi Police Service.