Malawi judge asks Parliament to protect borrowers from exorbitant bank interest rates

 Malawian judge,  Justice Michael Mtambo, has asked the country’s Members of Parliament to pass legislation to protect borrowers from rampant exorbitant bank interest rates and penalties just as other countries such as Kenya and Zambia have done. He made the appeal in his judgement made on 2nd July, 2017 when he ruled in favour of a […]

Law scholar finds Kasambara’s jail term ‘manifestly excessive’: Queries Judge Mtambo for abusing  judicial power 

South Africa-based Malawian professor of law, Danwood Chirwa, has  found that the sentence of  13 years imprisonment with hard labour (IHL) handed down to former justice minister Ralph Kasambara for conspiring to murder former budget director Paul Mphwiyo is ”manifestly excessive. The maximum sentence for conspiracy to murder is 14 years imprisonment with hard labour. But […]

Kasambara did not show remorse – Judge Mtambo: DPP says Malawi ex-minister  is ‘danger to the society’

High Court Judge Micheal Mtambo had a disbelief in former Justice and Constitutional Affairs minister, Raphael Kasambara’s claim of remorse for his role in the attempted murder of ex- Budget Director Paul Mphwiyo. During sentencing oral submissions on Tuesday, lawyer Modeccai Msiska, SC,  told the court that Kasambara was remorseful for his actions . “Our client […]

Kasambara appeal bid to delay, Supreme Court of Malawi yet to get notice: Sentencing to proceed

Former justice minister Ralph Kasambara (Senior Counsel), convicted last month  alongside Pika Manondo and Macdonald Kumwembe on the charge of conspiracy to murder former Ministry of Finance budget director Paul Mphwiyo  will have to wait longer for  an appeal bid as his matter has not yet reached the Supreme Court of Malawi over two weeks […]

Judge Mtambo details how he reached guilty verdict on Kasambara: Releases copy of judgement

High Court Judge Micheal Mtambo who was criticised for withholding the copy of his ruling  that he  delivered convicting  a former justice minister and two others of conspiracy to murder a former Ministry of Finance budget director in 2013, has finally released the copy of the judgement and it has detailed his reasons for reaching […]

Kasambara files appeal to Supreme Court of Malawi: Judge Mtambo made multiple ‘errors in law’, ignored evidence

Former justice minister Ralph Kasambara (Senior Counsel), convicted last month  alongside Pika Manondo and Macdonald Kumwembe on the charge of conspiracy to murder former Ministry of Finance budget director Paul Mphwiyo has filed a notice of appeal to the Supreme Court of Malawi against conviction. Mtambo also found Manondo, a businessperson and Kumwembe, a former […]

Malawi Law Society ponders on Kasambara:  Judge Mtambo ‘maliciously witholding’ judgement?

Malawi Law Society (MLS) is waiting to get hold of the  judgement  by High Court judge Micheal Mtambo which he delivered last month convicting  former justice minister Ralph Kasambara, before  making a decision to struck off Kasambara from the list of accredited lawyers to practice. Judge Mtambo convicted Kasambara alongside his two co-accused—Pika Manondo and […]

Kasambara’s judgement still unavailable: Mtambo sets sentencing date August 22

In what seems like in “A Most Wanted Man” conspiracy movie by Philip Seymour Hoffman, Justice Micheal Mtambo’s epistle that convicted former Minister of Justice Raphael Kasambara is strangely unavailable. Various sources have confided and collaborated that it is unusual for a judgement of that magnitude not to be available on both hard and soft […]

Malawi lessons galore: Guns, smoke and screens as State wins round one

As expected, Raphael Kasambara has left no-one in doubt. He will appeal against his conviction by the High Court in the case where he, and two others, were being tried for conspiring to commit murder and for their trouble in actually attempting to send Paul Mphwiyo to his maker earlier than scheduled. That is well […]

Judge Mtambo made an error in law: Kasambara claims its victory for vendetta not justice

Convicted former Justice and Constitutional Affairs Minister, Raphael Kasambara, has insisted that the verdict handed down by Judge Micheal Mtambo was unreasonable and couldn’t be supported by evidence to convict him and two others for attempting to murder the country’s former Budget Director, Paul Mphwiyo, in 2013. Before heading to Maula Prison awaiting sentencing, Kasambara […]

Kasambara claims conviction is miscarriage of justice: Malawi ex justice minister to appeal, says Judge Mtambo ‘compromised’

  Former Minister of Justice Raphael Kasambara has said he is a victim of “miscarriage of justice” for his conviction on charges of conspiring to murder the country’s former Budget Director Paul Mphwiyo, indicating he will lodge an appeal at the Supreme Court of Malawi. Kasambara was found “guilty” by Judge Michael Mtambo on conspiracy […]

Kasambara gets contempt of court: ‘I would slap DPP outside court’

The High Court Judge Michael Mtambo has slapped a contempt of court charge to former minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs Ralph Kasambara SC after he uttered words that the judge said would bring into dispute the proceedings of the trial into the shooting of former Ministry of Finance budget director Paul Mphwiyo. It all started when […]

Bail restored for Kasambara, Kumwembe: Judge Mtambo issue gag order

High Court judge Micheal Mtambo has given a restoration of bail to former minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs Raphael Kasambara and former Malawi Defence Force (MDF) soldier Macdonald Kumwembe after being remanded in prison for five and four months, respectively. Kasambara, Kumwembe and businessperson Pika Manondo are defending themselves in case of the near fatal […]

Judge Mtambo set Jan 29 to end Mphwiyo shooting case trial

Lilongwe High Court Judge Michael Ntambo said on Thursday  that he expects the trial of the on going attempted murder case of former Budget Director Paul Mphwiyo to be concluded during the next court session, which will be from January 27-29 2016. Lawyer and former Minister of Justice Ralph Kasambala , businessman Pika Manondo and Macdonald Kumwembe are […]

Judge Mtambo dismisses Kasambara’s bail restoration application: To spend festive season in prison

High Court judge Micheal Mtambo has dismissed a restoration of bail application by former minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs Raphael Kasambara, accusing him of abusing the process of the court by seeking same relief in the trial court and the Supreme Court of Appeal at the same time. Supreme Court judge Rezine Mzikamanda had […]

Kasambara appears in court: Judge Mtambo refuses to opt out of case

Lilongwe High Court judge Micheal Mtambo has dismissed an application from accused Macdonald Kumwembe, to recuse himself from the conspiracy to commit murder case of the shooting of former Ministry of Finance budget director Paul Mphwiyo at the gate of his Area 43 residence in Lilongwe on September 13 2013. Kumwembe – a former Malawi […]