Malawi journalist’s case fails to take off

Prosecution of Malawi’s online journalist Justice Mponda failed to start on Friday in Lilongwe because the State was not ready with the case.

The matter has since been adjourned to December 14 to give the State more time to carry out investigations. On the said day, the court will decide on the case’s future, according to Mponda’s lawyer Chancy Gondwe.

Mponda was arrested on October 15 in Blantyre and was transferred to Lilongwe, a distance of over 300 kilometres.

The Lilongwe Senior Resident Magistrate’s Court released him on bail when the State failed to challenge the application.

The State charged Mponda with one count of false publication contrary to an earlier statement which indicated that Mponda faced three counts, including one of insulting President Joyce Banda.

He paid K10 000 cash as bail bond while two other sureties were bonded at K50 000 non-cash.

He reports to police every Monday in Blantyre and has been cautioned against interfering with materials that are under investigations by the police.