Kumwembe wants Matemba as witness: Mphwiyo shooting case

The first accused in the Paul Mphwiyo shooting case, MacDonald Kumwembe, has asked  three top government officials including deputy director of Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), Reyneck Matemba  to testfy as his witnesses.

Kumwembe also wants as witnesses former Secretary to Treasury during the time Mphwiyo was Budget Director, Newby Kumwembe.

He has also lined up former police body guard to then minister of justice and constitutional affairs Ralph Kasambara – who is the third accused in the shooting case – a Mr Gani now stationed in Mchinji  and driver, a Mr Chimwaza and paralegal officer at Ministry of Justice Samuel Kumbweza should testify

Also asked to testify is former Senior State Advocate Dr Zolompi Nkowani who is now in private practice.

Kumwembe told Lilongwe High Court on Monday that he has added the four as some of his witnesses  to be paraded in the court to testify and answer some questions  that would help his defence.

Director of Public Prosecutions Mary Kachale has indicated that the State will object to other names who are appearing on the list  of witnesses .

She said Matemba and Kumbweza cannot testify because they are officers of the court who have been involved in the on-going case.

Presiding judge Michael Mtambo was yet to make a decision on the matter.

Kumwembe is answering two charges of attempted murder and conspiracy to murder former budget director Paul Mphwiyo together with second accused Pika Manondo and former Justice and Constitutional affairs minister Raphael Kasambara is answering conspiracy to commit murder charge.

Testifying on Monday, former Peoples Party (PP) spokesman Hophmally Makande told the court Mphwiyo was close to some suspects like Pika Manondo, describing the them as “very good friends.”

He said at some point Mphwiyo was kept at Pika’s elder brother, Dauka in Zomba.

Mphwiyo was shot outside the gate of his Area 43 residence in Lilongwe on September 13 2013, a shooting which is believed to have exposed the plunder of public resources at Capital Hill that came to be known as Cashgate.