By Chisomo Phiri
The Chief Resident Magistrate’s Court in Blantyre on Thursday discharged former Homeland Security Minister Cecelia Chazama and three former senior officials from the Department of Immigration and Citizenship Services (DICS) in an abuse of public office case.
The other accused persons were Masauko Katchule Medi, Pudenciana Makalamba, and Chandiwira Chandy Chidothe.
Chief Resident Magistrate Paul Chiotcha ruled that the discharge was necessary after the State once again requested an adjournment and failed to present a witness for the continuation of trial proceedings on Wednesday.
The court also noted that the prosecution had repeatedly failed to comply with a court order issued in April 2024, which directed the State to disclose key documents relevant to the case.
Despite several extensions, the State neither produced the documents nor provided a satisfactory explanation for the delay.
In delivering the ruling, Chiotcha further considered an application filed by Chidothe through his lawyer, Bright Theu, seeking either a discharge or dismissal of the matter.
The magistrate observed that the State appeared unable or unwilling to proceed with the prosecution, adding that it had failed to give convincing reasons for yet another adjournment or explain the lack of progress since the last hearing in October 2024.
The case stems from 2022 when the Anti-Corruption Bureau(ACB) charged eight public officers with abuse of public office in connection with the 2017 recruitment exercise of immigration constables.
