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Mphwiyo back in ICU

Back in ICU: Mphwiyo
Back in ICU: Mphwiyo

Shot Malawi Ministry of Finance budget director Paul Mphwiyo has returned to the intensive care unit (ICU) at a South African hospital barely days after bullets were removed from his body.

Medical doctors treating him have said it is difficult to state his rate of recovery as he is in a serious condition.

Four bullets were removed from Mphwiyo’s body at Milpark Hospital in Sunhill, South Africa where he is being treated.

Mphwiyo was shot on the night of September 13 2013 as he drove into his Area 43 residence in Lilongwe in an attack suspected to be linked to his fight against corruption in the civil service.

Speaking in a telephone interview, one of his doctors, who spoke on condition of anonymity for security reasons, said according to Mphwiyo’s current condition, it is hard to estimate his rate of recovery.

Said the doctor: “[Mphwiyo] is in ICU and when a person is sick, it is hard to estimate as to when he will recover. But we are doing our best to stabilise his condition.”

The doctor refused to disclose the type of gun and bullets which were used by Mphwiyo’s attacker, saying such information is sensitive, hence cannot be given to the press.

Said the doctor: “I am a doctor and I have to respect the confidentiality of my patient, so I cannot go ahead and give you such information without the approval of my patient or the relevant authorities.”

Commenting on the tight security deployed for Mphwiyo at the hospital, the doctor said the family and the Malawi Government are satisfied with the hospital security.

When contacted for comment, Malawi High Commission health attaché confirmed that Mphwiyo has been returned to ICU and is in a critical condition. However, he declined to give further details.

In a related development, the third suspect in Mphwiyo’s shooting was yesterday remanded to Maula Prison in Lilongwe following a court ruling to extend his detention.

Police at the weekend arrested Dauka Manondo after he reportedly deposited K300 000 into a bank account of one of the initial suspects, McDonald Kumwembe.

Manondo appeared before the Lilongwe First Grade Magistrate’s Court where the State applied for his continued detention.

Despite concerns over the failure by the State to adhere to the 48-hour bail rule which provides that suspects be charged before a court of law, first grade magistrate Patrick Chirwa ruled that Manondo remains in detention for the next 30 days.

—Teputepu is our correspondent in Johannesburg, South Africa. Additional reporting by Yvonnie Sundu, Staff Reporter in Lilongwe.

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One Comment

  1. This month of sept 2013 looks to be one date most Malawians will ever forget.The truth about the circumstances of this shooting of Mr. Mphwiyo might never be known.Can we trust those investigations to really be the facts of the matter? The sums of cash being mentioned is shocking. Lets start asking ourselfs how can we afford such things to take place at this time -when life is tough going.
    Our Banks involved in cashing such sums should explain how possible can one cash Millions of kwachas without questioning the
    details of origin and nature of transaction.Banks should apply rules and regulations equally to the citizens of the country,corruption
    is killing the economy of this nation.the truth must be revealed even if it might bring some unpleasant surprises regarding the scale
    high profile persons involved.or is it not

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