Malawi ex-minister Kasambara thrilled by Mphwiyo arrest

Malawi’s former Justice Minister Ralph Kasambara who is answering charges  over the shooting of a former budget director Paul Mphwiyo and another offence of money laundering  in connection with the infamous cashgate scandal, has been euphoric with the arrest of Mphwiyo and his wife.

Mphwiyo and his wife Thandie were detained by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on charges of money-laundering, theft and conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.

Kasambara took it on social media by posting a series of comments on his Facebook Timeline.

“Good Deeds Trust……was first heard of in the Mphwiyo Shooting Case; and now following that lead Mphwiyo and his wife have been arrested by ACB. Thanks to the good deeds of the justice system that allows cross examination. Hope ACB is still remembering about Lutepo and Mphwiyo sharing money at Ufulu Gardens; and also Mphwiyo and Pika Manondo travelling to  Johannesburg in September 2013.

“Lets now look forward to the next court hearing in which Mphwiyo will continue to be cross examined by yours truly,” wrote Kasambara.

A lawyer by profession, Kasambara was appointed justice minister when Joyce Banda came to power following the death of President Bingu wa Mutharika in April 2012.

Mphwiyo’s shooting was reportedly  aimed at silencing the fight against high levels of fraud. He served as the budget director in Banda’s administration for one year before he was shot at his home in the capital Lilongwe.

The shooting incident on September 13 of last year opened a Pandora Box that led to revelations that civil servants were syphoning money through the IFMIS.

Following the shooting, Mphwiyo was moved by Banda’s administration to the Office of the President and Cabinet.

Last month, Mphwiyo testified in court against Kasambala and others.

So far, the ACB has secured two convictions in the ongoing cashgate trials.

On Friday, a former accounts assistant in government Victor Sithole, 27, was found guilty of possessing stolen cash.

Early this month, a former tourism official  Tresa Namthanga Senzani was sentenced to three years and nine months in prison in connection with the cashgate scandal.