Nkhotakota Court to Deliver Judgment in Fuel Smuggling Case
Published on April 17, 2025 at 4:37 PM by Evance Kapito
The Nkhotakota First Grade Magistrate’s Court is set to deliver its ruling on April 23 in the case involving Emmanuel Matumba, who is accused of attempting to smuggle 19,800 litres of fuel to Mozambique.
Matumba, a resident of Nkhotakota District, appeared before the court on Tuesday and pleaded guilty to possessing the fuel without the required documentation. However, he did not disclose where he sourced the fuel from.
Despite a plea from his lawyer, Sylvester Ayuba James, requesting the court to delay the proceedings due to the accused’s ill health, Matumba told the court he preferred the case to proceed.
Matumba was arrested on March 14 this year, alongside Juwawo Mndala, a Mozambican national who was supposed to transport the fuel using his boat via Lake Malawi. The arrest occurred at the Kanyangale fishing dock under Traditional Authority Mwadzama.
Mndala has appealed to the court for leniency, citing that he is a foreign national who may not have fully understood the legal implications in Malawi.
Meanwhile, Matumba admitted his wrongdoing, saying the experience has taught him that engaging in illegal business activities leads to heavy financial losses.
The court is expected to make its decision next week.
