State Fails To Prove Muluzi’s Case – DPP

Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Masauko Chamkakala has cited lack of evidence and unavailability of State witnesses as key factors that influenced the discharge of former president Bakili Muluzi’s K1.7 billion corruption cases.

In an interview yesterday, Legal Affairs Committee of Parliament chairperson Albert Mbawala confirmed receiving the DPP’s report on the discharge of Muluzi by the High Court of Malawi on May 29 this year.

He said lack of evidence and witnesses’ unavailability were some of the reasons that compelled the DPP to discontinue the case.

Mbawala said the committee will meet the DPP on June 17 2023 for further clarification.

“We need to ask the DPP some questions because like on the issue that witnesses were not available to give evidence in the matter. So, we need to inquire more who these witnesses are and where they are when he says they were not available,” he said.

Chamkakala: I submitted the report on the case Mbawala said after meeting the DPP, his committee will compile a report with recommendations which will be submitted to Parliament during the Mid-Year Budget Review Meeting.

In a separate interview yesterday, Chamkakala confirmed submitting the report to the Legal Affairs Committee of Parliament, but declined to give details.

“The report was submitted to Parliament as required by the law. I am not at liberty to disclose the contents of the report at this stage,” he said.

The High Court cleared Muluzi and his co-accused of all charges in the $12 million abuse of public funds case that dragged for about 14 years after the DPP issued the discontinuance certificate on May 26 2023.

Under Section 99(3) of the Constitution, the DPP is required to explain the reasons for discontinuance to the Legal Affairs Committee of Parliament within 10 days after the order.

Muluzi’s discharge raised queries with some lawyers saying it was a blow to the fight against corruption in the country.