Kumwembe to parade Jumbe, Makande as witnesses in Mphwiyo case

One of the accused person in the shooting of former budget director in the ministry of finance Paul Mphwiyo,  Mcdonald Kumwembe has mentioned former minister of finance in the United Democratic Front (UDF)  government, Friday Jumbe and former Peoples Party official Hophmally Makande as some of his witnesses to testify in court as he enters his defence.

Former Malawi Defence Force (MDF) soldier Macdonald Kumwembe, who is jointly charged with  conspiracy to commit murder alongside former minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs Ralph Kasambara and businessperson Pika Manondo, told the court that the two politicians are some of the witnesses that he is going to parade in court as he enters defence after the state finished cross examining him.

Kumwembe is also charged with attempted murder together with Pika Manondo during the shooting of Mphwiyo outside the gate of his Area 43 residence in Lilongwe on September 13 2013. Mphwiyo’s shooting is believed to have exposed the plunder of public resources at Capital Hill that came to be known as Cashgate.

He said the other two witnesses that he was set to parade in court, including a  CID Police officer have been withdrawn, claiming they were being intimidated by the State.

But judge Michael Mtambo challenged Kumwembe to produce evidence that indeed the two were being intimidated so that the court should make a determination and order their protection.

The accused person, who has been addressing the court in Chichewa throughout the tria, said  he no longer want them to be his witnesses as such he will parade the other two together with Jumbe and Hophmally Makande

Earlier, Kumwembe, whom Mphwiyo identified in court as his shooter, was cross examined by one of the accused Raphael Kasambara where among other issues he was asked on his Mozambique trip and if he ever met Kasambara prior or after the shooting of Mphwiyo which Kumwembe denied all of them.

Meanwhile, the case has been adjourned to 4th and 5th January 2016 when Kumwembe is expected to parade his witnessed and the state shall start cross examine second accused person Pika Manondo and third accused person Kasambara.

The trio pleaded not guilty to the charges.

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