Kasambara’s judgement still unavailable: Mtambo sets sentencing date August 22

In what seems like in “A Most Wanted Man” conspiracy movie by Philip Seymour Hoffman, Justice Micheal Mtambo’s epistle that convicted former Minister of Justice Raphael Kasambara is strangely unavailable.

Various sources have confided and collaborated that it is unusual for a judgement of that magnitude not to be available on both hard and soft copies for critique, further analysis and scholarly fan fare.

Mtambo last week convicted Kasambara on charges of wanting to kill ex Budget Direcror Paul Mphwiyo.

Kasambara was sent to prison on conspiracy to commit murder together with two others, former Malawi Defence Force (MDF) soldier Macdonald Kumwembe and businessman Pika Manondo, The trio have since called it “miscarriage of justice”.

It is alleged the Judge read from his long hand for the amount of time given in this case and could be seen on TV struggling for some seconds to make sense of pages.

“The file for the matter is not available at Lilongwe registry. The Judge travelled with the file; apparently he could be writing the judgement in Blantyre after delivering the judgement. Chances are that after some public sentiments, he could alter one or two of his inconsistencies,” a judicial source said.

Director of Public Prosecution Mary Kachale said she also has not copy of the judgement and referred Nyasa Times to court registry.

Last week the lawyers wanting to appeal the matter for the trio did not succeed in accessing the file and judgement.

It remains to be seen when it will be made available.

Already many legal and social commentators have thrown doubts on the basis of the judgement.

The feud between Mtambo and Kasambara is well documented and emotions were clearly observable during trial.

Summarising comments from all corners, one word this can be called a “mistrial”

Meanwhile, the Kasambara, Manondo and Kumwembe  will be sentenced  on August 22, 2016.

Judicial Spokesperson Mlenga Mvula confirmed, saying both the defence and the state is expected to make its final sub-mission on August 15, 2016.

“I can confirm that Kasambara, Manondo and Kumwembe will sentenced to jail on August 22”, said Mvula.

Meanwhile, Kasambara has vowed to appeal his conviction at the Supreme Court of Appeal, saying Mtambo court trial was “ staged”.

Kasambara , now a private practice lawyer and senior councel (SC) served as Attorney General and Justice Minister in the Joyce Banda administration and the first term of former president  the late Bingu wa Mutharika.

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