Tractor-Gate Scandal Update: Lilongwe High Court Finds Two Principle Secretaries Guilty of Contempt of Court

The High Court in Lilongwe has found Principal Secretary for Ministry of Agriculture Gray Nyandule Phiri and Cliff Chiunda Principal Secretary for the Ministry of Finance guilty of contempt of court in the tractor gate case.

High Court judge Charles Mkandawire has however given a chance to legal counsel for the two PSs Chancy Gondwe to submit to the court what he feels would be the appropriate punishment in the case.

The court may impose a fine, send the convict to prison for not more than 2 years or may release the person with conditions.

On a scale of 1 to 10, Gondwe has told the court that his clients having disobeyed an order from Supreme Court can score 2. As mitigating factors, he further points out that the two respondents are first offenders and already apologized.

Gondwe also submits that the court should take into consideration the ages of the two who are both aged above 50.

One is aged 59 while the other is aged 57.