Thom Mpinganjira ‘case’ drags
The interpartes hearing of Zomba Magistrate Court order on Thom Mpinganjira’s cancelled warrant of arrest has been adjourned to this afternoon.
Judiciary spokesperson, Agnes Patemba, said the hearing was adjourned because Mpinganjira’s lawyers were not available at the court.
“Lawyers for Mpinganjira [were] not available today,” she said.
But one of Mpinganjira’s lawyers, Patrice Nkhono, said there was a communication mix up between the judge’s office and the lawyers on the date.
Nkhono said the lawyers at Ritz Attorneys were served with a notice saying the hearing would be today while the Anti- Corruption Bureau (ACB) was informed that the hearing was scheduled for yesterday.
“Because of that, the ACB Director, Reyneck Matemba, travelled all the way from Lilongwe to Blantyre only to find out that we were told Tuesday. Nevertheless, I was personally available at the court but a decision was made to have the hearing on Tuesday,” he said.
Zomba Magistrate, Ben Chitsakamire, cancelled Mpinganjira’s warrant of arrest which was obtained at Lilongwe Magistrate Court, a decision which the judiciary described as irregular.
Mpinganjira was arrested last Wednesday morning on allegations connected to reports that some people planned to bribe judges hearing the presidential elections case.
Chief Justice Andrew Nyirenda lodged a complaint to ACB that some people wanted to bribe the five judges who are hearing the case.
Mpinganjira was released at Wednesday midnight after Chitsakamire cancelled the warrant of arrest.
Patemba said the courts had called for the file from Zomba describing the order as irregular.
The file was assigned to High Court Judge Justice Dorothy Nyakaunda Kamanga who is expected to review the file and give proper directions.
Malawi Congress Party and UTM presidents Lazarus Chakwera and Saulos Chilima are challenging results of the presidential election in court.
High Court Justices Healy Potani, Dingiswayo Madise, Ivy Kamanga, Redson Kapindu and Mike Tembo concluded hearing the case on December 20 and will deliver their ruling by February 3 2020.
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