Makande denies giving Mphwiyo ’10 days’ ultimatum: Testifies in shooting case

Former Peoples Party (PP) Publicity Secretary Hophmary Makande has told the Lilongwe High court that the party never used public funds in any of its activities when it was in power.

Makande was in court as a second witness for Macdonald Kumwembe who together with lawyer Ralph Kasambala and businessman Pika Manondo are answering attempted murder and conspiracy to commit murder on former Budget Director Paul Mphwiyo.

During cross examination by Director of Public Prosecution ((DPP), Mary Kachale , Makande was asked if  as publicity secretary ‘he was in the know as to how PP was getting its funding.’

“As a party, we were getting funding from the President and a few well wishers,” answered Makande.

Kachale further asked if the party was using public funds for day to day party events and or during the campaign.

“Never, as I said the party never used public funds, may be during the period I left because I was booted out about two to three weeks before the campaign” he said.

Makande refused to be drawn to comment on Mphwiyo’s claims that politicians were pressurising him to make payments.

“I did not give Mphwiyo 10 days to make payments. I don’t know anything and, therefore, cannot say anything. But I know that Pika Manondo [second accused] and Mphwiyo were good friends. His brother lived with Mphwiyo some years back and they were always together,”said Makande.

Makande also revealed that former Justice Minister Raphael Kasambara, who is facing the charge of conspiracy to murder the former budget director, never wanted Mphwiyo to be appointed into that position.

“Kasambara was against Paul Mphwiyo’s appointment as budget director. In fact, I remember one day while we were eating nsima at his house, Kasambara said Mphwiyo has a bad track record and he would mess up things at the Ministry of Finance,” said Makande.

Earlier, Makande told the court that he joined the then ruling PP three weeks before the party convention where he was elected as Publicity Secretary.

The case has since been adjourned to tomorrow, January 5 2016 from 9am

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.