The Senior Resident Magistrate Court in Mzimba has sentenced a 30-year-old Gladwel Ngwata to 21 years imprisonment with hard labour for defiling a 9-year-old girl in the district.
Mzimba Police station Deputy Public Relations Officer, Sub inspector John Nyirongo, has confirmed the news to 247 Malawi News.
According to Nyirongo, Ngwata was once sentenced to 9 year jail term in 2020 for a similar offence.
He was however released after serving 2 years in prison because his file did not go for confirmation to the High Court within the stipulated 12 months.
In court, on the fresh count, Ngwata pleaded not guilty to the charge, prompting the state to parade six witnesses who testified beyond reasonable doubts.
The state through prosecutor Sub Inspector Henrry Mkweche told the court, presided over by Mathews Msiska, that on January 7, 2021 the victim went for morning classes together with her friend.
When they knocked off, they started picking mangoes in a certain maize field.
Ngwata came and started chasing the victim until he dragged her into the nearby bush where he defiled her.
The victim’s friend ran away upon seeing how Ngwata was chasing her friend.
The victim reported the matter to her mother who lodged the complaint at Mzimba Police Station and she was issued with medical report form for examination and medication at Mzimba District Hospital.
At the hospital, the victim was confirmed to have been carnally known.
Having satisfied with the state’s evidence, the court found him guilty.
In mitigation, the accused pleaded mercy stating his family obligations.
The state prosecutor in submission told the court that the convict once committed a similar offence, the victim has been traumatized by his action and that defilement cases are rampant in the district, hence the convict be given meaningful sentence to deter others.
Giving sentence, magistrate Msiska concurred with the state’s submission that the convict is not the first offender and he slapped him with a 21 year custodial sentence.
Ngwata hails from Mtambalika Moyo Village, Traditional Authority Mmbelwa in Mzimba.
Thyolo District Youth Friendly Health Services Coordinator Steven Dimba on Tuesday said there has been a drop in usage of condoms in the district.
In an interview , Dimba said that in 2020, 28106 males and 18 306 females accessed condoms while in 2021, 26399 males and 22 257 females utilized condoms representing a 6.8 percent decrease. “We registered 31812 young people as new clients and 18551 as revisits (old clients) in 2020 but now the numbers has gone down in such a way that in 2021 we only recorded 28040 clients and 16665 revisits.“The reduction in uptake of condoms has gone down because of lack of awareness by young people on availability of condoms, shyness, long distances and myths misconceptions on condom use, “Kashoni said.
He added that young people have low knowledge on the importance of condoms and how to use them properly and consistently and this may in turn lead to many unplanned pregnancies and Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs),” he said.
He advised young people that they should refrain from early sex or use condoms every time they engage in sexual practices so that they should succeed with their education and achieve their goals.
Deputy Minister of Labour, Vera Kamtukule, says Government is committed to achieve a common end of making sure that every ex miner from Malawi get their benefits by working with the Provident Fund of South Africa towards achieving that goal.
Kamtukule made the remarks in Lilongwe on Thursday during a press briefing under Government Faces the Press.She said her ministry is following the laws to have the ex miners access their benefits. Meanwhile, the process of giving funds to the beneficiaries has started.Malawians flocked to South Africa between 1940 to 1950 and worked in the mines under a bilateral agreement with the South African and Malawi government.
Kazako and Kamtukule
Kamtukule said the Tonse led administration signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the South African Government which gave a go ahead for the beneficiaries to start receiving the funds.”Currently, 15 people out of the 87 verified beneficiaries have received their money directly through their bank accounts,” she said.
Provident Fund confirmed 500 ex miners as beneficiaries. Minister of Information who is also Government Spokesperson, Gospel Kazako, has commended Government for putting much effort and a break through in the history of Malawi to have ex miners receive start recieving their benefits.Reported by Lydia Bomani
Pressure is mounting again for Lands Minster to resign from his post and pave way for proper investigation into his corruption conduct. A civil society organisation, Youth and Society (YAS) demand the dis-honourable minister to resign following his arrest by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB). This comes on a day when The Public Affairs Committee (PAC) has also questioned why Msukwa is still a minister up to this day
The failure to act on Msukwa is eroding public trust and support in the presidency as people feel “nothing for us but something for them”, a contradiction to Chakwera’s promises during the general elections campaign.
YAS, a governance and human rights watchdog, has given Msukwa 7 days from January 17 to resign — failing which the NGO “will take necessary action within the law”.
“We believe that your resignation is the first significant step in ensuring justice and accountability in this corruption case, and in curing a climate of impunity in your Ministry,” says the letter issued by YAS Executive Director, Charles Kajoloweka.
YAS contends that its has taken this course of action as Msukwa’s arrest — in connection with investigations on Sattar and state capture of epic proportions — have attracted huge public interest.
In a statement after the interface with President Chakwera , PAC through Monsignor Thawale said it has observed that “contradictions have emerged in the manner Chakwera’s administration has treated former Minister of Energy, Newton Kambala, and Minister of Lands, Hon. Kezzie Msukwa, on allegation of corruption as compared to the way you fired Minister of Labour, Hon. Ken Kandodo.” It has since demanded that Msukwa be fired from his role.
Msukwa was arrested after it was discovered that he allegedly allowed sale of land on Lilongwe in favour of Sattar and that the British National offered him bribes — allegations which Msukwa denies.
Msukwa maintains that the sale of the said plot number 46/2057 in Area 46 in Lilongwe was sold to Sattar by the Ministry before he became its minister.
Msukwa had argued this at Zomba High Court where he filed and made an ex-parte application for judicial review, saying the ACB failed to correctly appreciate and discharge its constitutional, statutory and administrative law duties.
Reacting to this , Muskwa who is also Member of Parliament for Chitipa East Constituency, says that he is yet to get the statement from the said organisation to make his stand.
The Public Affairs Committee (PAC) has criticized the Tonse Alliance administration for its failure to provide direction on the mitigation of economic hardships emanating from the impact of Covid-19 pandemic. PAC Chairperson Monsignor Dr. Patrick Thawale made the sentiments on Tuesday during a during a follow-up interface meeting Chakwera at Sanjika Palace in Blantyre.
The Committee has also rebuked President Dr. Lazarus Chakwera for presiding over a government that has allowed nepotism and selective justice to flourish.
“With due respect to explanations on the impact of Covid-19 pandemic and its implications on the economy Your Excellency, the public view seems to suggest that the administration lacks direction on the mitigation of economic hardship. We believe that in this area relevant Ministries that have a bearing on economic development ought to be aggressive in communicating to the public. It seems they have distanced themselves from their rightful role. Your Excellency may consider to packageproperly the information on economy to be imparted to the public, and your Cabinet Ministers ought to be in the forefront to defend and justify the economic status. This brings us to the next aspect we are following up,” said Thawale.
PAC chairperson also highlighted the issue of nepotism, stressing that questions continue to linger among well-meaning Malawians on how the President’s daughter’s posting to the Malawi Embassy in the United Kingdom and the appointment of son-in-law Sean Kampondeni, who doubles functions as Personal Assistant as well as Director of Communications, compounds the situation.
Thawale challenged that that “even if these officials have competences, this is Malawi, Your Excellency, the public will never trust you especially that those participating in this allegedly nepotism are in the Office of the Presidency.”
“Your moral standing becomes diluted,” he said.
Monsignor Dr. Patrick Thawale
While commending Chakwera for the positive strides registered in the drive against corruption by, among others, letting ACB and other enforcement agencies to arrest Cabinet ministers and the presidential aide, Thawale observed that “contradictions have emerged in the manner Chakwera’s administration has treated former Minister of Energy, Newton Kambala, and Minister of Lands, Hon. Kezzie Msukwa, on allegation of corruption as compared to the way you fired Minister of Labour, Hon. Ken Kandodo.”
He said recent developments on the fight against corruption have cast doubt on Chakwera’s political will to deal with corruption in Malawi.
“Media stories on the investigation by British and Malawi officials into businessman Zuneth Sattar appears greater in size which could undermine the integrity of the current administration. Your Excellency may consider avoiding the use of selective justice in treating cabinet Ministers – especially on issues you are able to make decisions,” he said.
PAC also demanded that President Chakwera should fire Secretary to the President and Cabinet (SPC), Zanga-Zanga Chikhosi, and other senior officials at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.
The Committee further recommended that the Tonse Alliance administration should “consider a review exercise which could guide the direction of Affordable Input Programme in terms of its sustainability or define its exit strategy in light of the budgetary constraints we face as a nation.”
It also advised Chakwera to reshuffle his Cabinet within three months.
“Your Excellency, understand us right. We would like to collaborate with you where we feel you are doing the right things. Secondly, in no way, we hate anybody in their personal capacity. Your Excellency, governments run on taxpayers money. Therefore players in democratic governance have every right to hold you accountable. Let us call spade a spade today, Your Excellency reshuffle the Cabinet and appoint competent Secretary to the President and Cabinet. Consider changes in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as well, for there seems to be reputational challenges. In fact, the current Cabinet seems to be a spectator in their leadership style. A number of them lack gravitas and influence. For instance, this is the time those occupying rightful roles in economic arena should have been in the forefront of translating and explaining measures to mitigate economic hardship. Their silence is loud enough. We kindly call upon Your Excellency to consider reshuffling the Cabinet within three months. The public patience is running thin.
“Your Excellency, the current term of office is five years. Swift decision- making process is required. Indecisiveness on reshuffling the Cabinet, the revelations that your daughter assumed duties at the Embassy in UK, failure to make public Public Sector Systems Review Report submitted to you by the Vice President, and failure to fire Ministers allegedly involved in corruption as you acted on Hon. Ken Kandodo has led Malawians to brand your leadership as tainted with lies and corruption,” said Thawale.
“Your Excellency, although in the introductory part we appreciated your open door policy to dialogue with us and others, it should not be interpreted that PAC will continue holding dialogue without seeing actions being taken. We would opt for second level dialogue in form of All-Inclusive Stakeholders Conference with a developmental agenda should indecisiveness continue. The trust on Your Excellence has been eroded so fast as a result of your approach to decision making. In fact, you made mistakes on day one of appointing your Cabinet, coupled with failure to honour the pledge on reshuffling the Cabinet. Finally, Your Excellency, you are unique in the sense that you are the first leader in this position that requested us that we should be frank and honest with you in our dialogue exercise. Such a virtue is not common among leaders. And that is what exactly we have done today – to be frank with you,” he concluded.
