Lawyer Mbeta discharges himself in Chaponda corruption-related charges

One of the lawyers representing former Agriculture Minister George Chaponda in a case of the dubious purchase of maize from Zambia, Frank Mbeta, has discharged himself from the case.

Mbeta filed the notice of discharge Thursday morning, leaving the defence team with Jai Banda, Tamanda Chokhotho, Madalo Banda, Madalitso Mbeta and Lusungu Gondwe.

The lawyer said he has “very tight schedule in other courts.”

Despite being one of the prominent lawyers, Mbeta is controversial as he is projected in bad light as a justice shopper.

An interesting aspect in the recent court judgment, Judge John Katsala ruling says: “Months went by without hearing anything from the first defendant on the progress of the case against the third party. Upon being pressed, the first defendant lied that his lawyer, Mr (Frank) Mbeta, had left the country for the United Kingdom for his graduation before filing the case in court. When asked to instruct another lawyer, he refused, saying that he could only use counsel Mbeta because he knows how to bribe judges in order to win cases.”

The ruling indicates that lawyer Mbeta is expert in judge shopping.

There were similar allegations involving Mbeta in the Khato case on Lake Malawi water project against Malawi Law Society.