State ‘satisfied’ with Kasambara conviction: To challenge appeal bid by Malawi-ex justice minister

Prosecutors have said they are”satisfied” justice has been done as  High Court on Thursday convicted a former justice minister Ralph Kasambara and two others of conspiracy to murder a former Ministry of Finance budget director Paul Mphwiyo in 2013.

Mary Kachale, the Director of Public Prosecution who has been lead prosecutor in the case, said “justice has been seen to be done.”

And State Assistant Director of Public Prosecution, Enock Chibwana,  said he was “pleased” all the three defendants have been convicted.

The court found the former minister and two others, Pika Manondo and Macdonald Kumwembe, guilty of conspiracy to murder and also found the other two guilty of attempted murder.

Chibwana, hailed the judgment, saying the High Court Judge Michael Mtambo analysed the submissions without any bias, dismissing Kasambara’s claims that the judge was “compromised.”

He said Mphwiyo’s shooting is directly linked to ‘Cashgate’.

“The shooting and attempted murder of the Malawi former budget director is directly linked to the country’s historical plunder of public funds where billions of dollars were stolen.

“Over 70 have since been arrested and the cases are still in court while over 10, among them top government personnel, having been sent to jail,’’ he said.

The attempted murder of the former director took place on the night of August 13, 2013 at the gates of Mphwiyo’s residence in Lilongwe.

Mphwiyo was shot three times at close range as he awaited the opening of the gate.
He was flown to South Africa for medication where a successful surgery was conducted on his face.

Mphwiyo implicated Kasambara and the other two in the case, claiming that he personally saw them during the shooting.

Kasambara could face up to 14 years in prison when he is sentenced. However, a judge also could impose an unspecified, lesser sentence, prosecutors said.

No date was set for sentencing.

But Kasambara has vowed to appeal at the Supreme Court aganst the verdict, saying the judge was “compromised” and the verdict is a result of “miscarriage of justice.”

Chibwana said the convicts have a right to appeal but said the State will vigourously challenge the bid.

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