Mphwiyo asylum rumours dismissed: Undergoes surgery with trauma dentist
The family of shot former Ministry of Finance budget director Paul Mphwiyo have denied that the gun-shot survivor has claimed asylum in South Africa, saying he is coming back home after undergoing surgery.
Mphwiyo recently left Malawi for South Africa for a follow up medical treatment following his initial operation when three bullets were removed from his body after he was shot at his house in Area 43 in Lilongwe.
There have been rumours that the gun-shot survivor has sought asylum in South Africa but Mphwiyo family sharply denied such “callous propaganda.”
“All that you are reading in social media is fiction. We don’t know where the story originated from that Mr Paul Mphwiyo has claimed asylum in South Africa. He underwent a surgery with a Trauma Dentist and they are realigning his teeth. He is coming back home,” said Mphwiyo family in a statement to Nyasa Times.
“Paul Mphwiyo has not sought asylum and there is no reason to seek asylum in any country. He is in South Africa for medical attention and will happily come back home after the treatments [in not too distant future].”
Mphwiyo family said “Paul has cooperated, and will continue to cooperate, with the relevant State institutions regarding his shooting and the encashment of public funds.”
About six people were arrested and charged in connection with Mphwiyo’s shooting, including lawyer and former minister of Justice Ralph Kasambara, his bodyguard Keston Gani, a Dauka Manondo, a Robert Kadzuwa and a Macdonald Kumwembe.
Mphwiyo is expected to be the first prosecution witness against Kasambara who face charges of attempting to murder.
The shooting of Mphwiyo in September opened a Pandora box of the massive looting of public resources dubbed “cashgate.”
According to court documents seen by Nyasa Times, Mphwiyo is implicating Kasambara for his shooting incident.
In a sworn affidavit, Mphwiyo who was shot as he drove into his Area 43 home in Lilongwe— said he was receiving death threats prior to his fate.
The 37-year-old former budget chief claims he was receiving phones threatening his life in connection with his tough public finance and economic management measures that that have closed pilfering loopholes at Capital Hill.
Kasambara has denied any wrong doing in the shooting of Mphwiyo. He was however arrested by Police on a separate charge of money laundering and was released on bail. He also denies the charges.
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