Chikhosi, 5 others to testify in Nocma fuel deals case
Secretary to the President and Cabinet Zanga-Zanga Chikhosi is among six witnesses the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has lined up to testify in the National Oil Company of Malawi (Nocma) fuel supply contract case.
According to a witness list the ACB has filed to the court under criminal case 934 of 2021, Chikhosi, who is also Nocma board chairperson, has been listed as witness number four while Nocma deputy chief executive officer Hellen Buluma is witness number two.
Other witnesses for the graft-busting body are Ministry of Energy officials, namely Principal Secretary Patrick Matanda, Manuel Mphinga, Reuben Micklas and Robert Mkandawire.
In the case, former minister of Energy Newton Kambala, former presidential adviser Chris Chaima Banda and Alliance for Democracy (Aford) president Enock Chihana are, among other charges, accused of trying to influence a public officer to abuse office in procurement of fuel contrary to the Corrupt Practices Act.
Hearing of the case failed to take place on Monday this week because Lilongwe chief resident magistrate Patrick Chirwa was bereaved. The court is yet to set a new date.
Last Thursday, the defence punched holes in the charge sheet, saying it lacked clarity and that some of the counts lacked basis. In this regard, the defence asked the court to throw out the charge sheet and consequently free the accused. But the State insisted th charges have merit.
ACB arrested the three in August this year. They were later granted court bail.
Following their arrest, President Lazarus Chakwera dismissed both Kambala and Chaima from their positions.
