MPHWIYO’s SHOOTING CASE: FRIDAY JUMBE PARADED IN COURT AS KUMWEMBE’s WITNESS

As the shooting case of former Budget Director Paul Mphwiyo resumed today at the High Court in the capital Lilongwe, former Finance Minister during the reign of United Democratic Front (UDF) Friday Jumbe appeared in court as witness.

The third accused in the case Macdonald Kumwembe named Jumbe, the then opposition People’s Party (PP) spokesperson Hophmally Makande and others to appear in court as his witnesses.

In his testimony, Jumbe said the office of the Budget Director is not an independent office, saying the office works under the Secretary to Treasury and can be used to steal government money.

Jumbe said this when he was responding to a question asked by Kumwembe during cross-examinations before High Court Judge Michael Mtambo.

The former Minister also denied explaining the role of Mphwiyo when asked by Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) Mary Kachale.

“I don’t know the parameters from which Mphwiyo was working under,” he said.

Jumbe also said he is not testifying as Kumwembe’s witness but as financial expert.

Meanwhile Kumwembe has added two more witnesses into the case.

Former Malawi Defence Force (MDF) soldier Macdonald Kumwembe is jointly charged with conspiracy to commit murder alongside former minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs Ralph Kasambara and businessperson Pika Manondo.