By Sarah Tembo
First Grade Magistrate Court sitting at Mkukula in Dowa District on Tuesday has ordered the immediate release of former State House Chief of Staff Prince Kapondamgaga.
Kapondamgaga was arrested yesterday in relation to the sale of Amaryllis Hotel.
“The intended arrest of Prince Kapondamgaga pursuant to the warrant by this court, or pursuant to any other warrant, or his arreas without warrant, be and is hereby suspended pending hearing of inter parties application for the cancellation of the said warrants or pending apllication bfor the determination of the legality of the intended arrest of the aplicant without a warrant,” reads part of the order.
According to the amended order from the court dated 9th June 2026, “should the police desire to take any action against the applicant, the same should be done with prior authority of either this court or any other competent court with requisite jurisidiction.”
Meanwhile, Human Rights Defenders Coalition (HRDC) has questioned the arrest of Kapondamgaga arguing investigations into the matter by the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) have not been concluded.
According to a press statement signed by HRDC Chairperson Michael Kaiyatsa and its National Coordinator Kelvin Chirwa, the institution has since called on PAC to expedite the release of the final report of their investigations, law enforcement agencies should exercise their duties without fear or favour, and all stakeholders should uphold the rule of law among others.
