Lilongwe High court has postponed the sentencing of former Principal Secretary for Tourism Treza Namathanga Senzani, from October 2 to Monday, October 6.
Senzani who was a first convict into the massive looting of Tax payer’s money also known as Cashgate pleaded guilty of stealing around $150,000 (63 million kwacha) from state coffers, part of a broader swindle worth at least $30 million.
Senzani was due for sentencing on 2 October having pleaded guilty to the charges, but confirmation from her Lawyer Necton Mhura who disclosed that prior communication to her client from the High Court said the sentencing got postponed to Monday.
“We received communication this morning that sentencing had gotten postponed to Monday October 6,” Mhura.
High Court judge Justice Ivy Kamanga who is scheduled to sentence Namathanga has since confirmed of the development.
However, Senzani paid back the MK 63.5 million stolen money in full.
Mhura told the court in the previous court session that “donor confidence won’t be regained by sending Cashgate convicts to jail. Sending her to jail will not bring back drugs in the hospitals.”
Senzani is apparently understood to be used by the state as a prosecution witness in other Cashgate cases.
The Cashgate scandal is said to have seen an astounding 13 billion Malawi Kwacha (about US $30 million) lost through fraud and misappropriation of funds.
