By Chisomo Phiri
The High Court in Lilongwe has dismissed an application by former Reserve Bank of Malawi (RBM ) Governor and United Transformation Movement (UTM ) party presidential candidate Dalitso Kabambe and his co-accused to adjourn their K13.6 billion loan fraud case in order to allow him to campaign ahead of the September 16 General Elections.
Delivering his ruling on Friday, August 22, 2025, Justice Chimbigzani Kanthambi said the application lacked merit and granting it would undermine the principle of equal treatment before the law.
Kabambe, together with Henry Mathanga, Leston Ted Mulli, Felton Mulli, Joseph Khupe, Mulli Brothers Limited, and Web Commercials Limited, faces accusations of facilitating loans to Mulli Brothers and others for the purchase of Affordable Inputs Programme (AIP) fertilizer,fertilizer that was never delivered.
The loans also remain unpaid.
Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Masauko Chamkakala welcomed the ruling, stressing that political ambitions cannot be used as an excuse to delay criminal proceedings.
The case is still at its preliminary stage, with the accused yet to take their plea.
The state argued that Kabambe’s physical presence in court is not essential at this point, as he is legally represented, and ongoing proceedings do not infringe on his constitutional right to contest elections.
This comes barely a week after another court allowed former president Peter Mutharika to defer his appearance in the Cement Gate case until after the elections to accommodate his campaign activities.
