DPP MP Ngwira gets police bail, defiant

Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Regional Governor for the north Rev. Christopher Mzomera Ngwira has been released on police bail at exactly 5:26pm on Thursday.

Ngwira who was arrested on Wednesday has been charged with the offence of ‘theft by public servant.’

He spent Wednesday night in the cooler after being arrested on suspicion of misappropriating development funds.

Ngwira: Walks out to freedom after bail. Photo by Favour Mazinga/Nyasa Times

Rev Ngwira, a former junior minister for Lands, Housing and Urban Development in the previous regime of late Bingu wa Mutharika, is also a Parliamentarian for Mzimba Hora Constituency.

He is accused of misappropriating K130, 000, money that was meant to purchase quarry for the construction of a teacher’s house under the Local Development Fund (LDF).

Speaking to Nyasa Times after his release, Ngwira denied any wrong doing describing the charges as “cheap political propaganda aimed at silencing me.”.

Said Ngwira: ”They have framed these charges in order to silence me, but I will not back down.”

He was adamant: ”This arrest has just strengthened me as a politician and DPP as a party. We will never back down until 2014.”

Ngwira said the K130, 000 money in question was cashed by the committee constructing the school.

”The committee had cashed the money in order to pay for quarry and transportation costs. The mistake the committee did was to cash the money instead of writing the cheque,” he said.

Ngwira further took a swipe at President Joyce Banda and her ruling People’s Party (PP) saying Malawi has no ruling government.

”Malawi has no ruling party or government. The ruling party will be known after 2014,” he said.

The regional governor’s bail was processed by lawyer Ashimu Siadi of Lameck and Co law firm.

”Our client has been released on police bail which is unconditional. He shall be reporting to Mzimba police station as the police shall direct,” the layer told Nyasa Times.

Date for court hearing  has not yet been set.

During the bail application, a handful party supporters, friends and relatives camped at Mzimba police station.

Auspiciously missing were members of DPP from the region and national executive committee (NEC).

The DPP lawmaker stirred a controversy last month when he claimed his party was still ruling the country because President Joyce Banda owes her rise to the former ruling party.

The youthful Rev Ngwira was appointed governor of the region following the resignation of one-time DPP die hard Frank Mwenifumbo who defected to the ruling People’s Party (PP) after the death of Mutharika.

Ngwira walks to freedom.Photo by Favour Mazinga/Nyasa Times
MP Ngwira gets a hug from a sympathiser after police bail.Photo by Favour Mazinga/Nyasa Times

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