By Duncan Mlanjira
The High Court in Lilongwe has found former Minister of Home Affairs and Internal Security Uladi Mussa and four others David H. Kwanjana, Pascal Rwasa, Peter Katasha and Esili Kubwimana with case to answer on all the charges that the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) filed.
The case is that on 25th September, 2015, the ACB received a complaint alleging that on 14th May, 2014, the Chief Immigration Officer granted Malawi Citizenship to Rwandan nationals using a file belonging to another foreign national.
“The ACB instituted investigations and established that citizenships were granted to people who were not eligible,” says a statement released on Monday by the ACB’s senior public relations officer, Egrita Ndala.
“On 28th February, 2017, the ACB arrested Mr. Peter Katasha (a Malawian national) for presenting false information that he was related to some foreign nationals, who were applying for Malawi citizenship.
“He was charged with uttering a false document contrary to Section 121 as read with Section 360 of the Penal Code.
A High Court sitting
“On 6th March, 2017, the Anti-Corruption Bureau arrested Hon. Uladi Mussa, and Mr. David H. Kwanjana, (former Senior Assistant Chief Immigrations Officer) now Regional Immigration Officer Center.
“They were taken to Lilongwe Magistrates Court where they were charged with one count of neglect of official duties contrary to Section 121 of the Penal Code and misuse of public office contrary to Section 25B (1) of the Corrupt Practices Act.
Mussa leaving the court after one hearing
“Mr. Pascal Rwasa, (Burundian national) was arrested on 9th March, 2017, for presenting false information that he was related to another foreign national, who was applying for Malawi citizenship by presenting the person as his dependent when the person was over 18 years old and not related to him.
“He was charged with uttering a false document contrary to Section 122 as read with Section 360 of the Penal Code.
“On 13th March, 2017, the Anti-Corruption Bureau arrested Mr. Esili Kubwimana, a Rwandese national for giving false information to Immigration Officers when making applications for business resident permit and Malawi citizenship contrary to Section 122 as read with Section 360 of Penal Code.
“On 21st October, 2019, the High Court in Lilongwe found Mr. Uladi Mussa, Mr. David H. Kwanjana, Mr. Pascal Rwasa, Mr. Peter Katasha and Mr. Esili Kubwimana with case to answer on all the charges.
“The four will appear in Court from 25th to 27th November, 2019 for defence.
“In a related development, on 23rd October, 2019, the Lilongwe Magistrate’s Court found Mr. Charles Phiri, Senior Clinical Officer at Kamuzu Central Hospital with a case to answer for issuing a fake medical report to a cash gate suspect, Mr. Philbert Mkandawire.
“Mr. Philbert Mkandawire used the fake medical report to obtain an adjournment in a case he is answering before the Lilongwe Magistrate Court.
“Mr. Philbert Mkandawire goes to Court on 14th November, 2019 for defence,” says the statement.