The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) says the 83-year-old party’s President Peter Mutharika is not disqualified from contesting for re-election under the DPP constitution.
This follows arguments by DPP Vice President for the South Kondwani Nankhumwa, in a court challenging, that the endorsement of Mutharika at National Governing Council (NGC) meeting held recently in Mangochi were a sham, as they were being made for someone who already served two terms.
But in a statement signed by the spokesperson Shadric Namalomba, the party insists Nankhumwa’s claims saying Mutharika is still eligible for re-election in the party.
Mutharika
“According to the DPP constitution, Mutharika is still eligible for re-election in the party no matter how long he has served in the party,”says Namalomba.
Currently, it is not known whether the party will comply with a court order pronounced on Friday last week, which ordered the DPP to hold an elective conference and a properly constituted NGC meeting within 90 days.
The order by High Court Judge Simeon Mdeza also directed that all candidates who are eligible under the party’s constitution must contest for positions at the convention.
Since the DPP was shoveled out of government in 2020, there has been power scramble by leaders within the party.
A magistrate court in Blantyre has issued yet another warrant of arrest against on the run and wanted businessman Mohamed Shabir Salim Jussab for allegedly obtaining a BMW car worth K26 million by false pretence.
The offence is contrary to section 319 (1) of Penal Code.
Shabir, on Interpol Red Alert and also with another warrant of arrest hanging on his head over cyber harassment crime and reportedly in Saudi Arabia, is this time around being accused of obtaining the BMW car by false pretence.
Mohamed Shabir Salim Jussab
The car was brought to his garage at Makata in Blantyre but he never returned it to the owner.
The court, in a warrant of arrest dated 18th September 2023, has ordered police to arrest him and bring him before the court.
Police in Blantyre have also been hunting for businessman Humair Salim Mahomed Sidik Jussab, a young brother to Shabir, months after Chief Resident Magistrate Court in Blantyre issued a warrant of arrest against him over a ‘hot car’.
Humair, who is also wanted by Malawi Revenue Authority (MRA), is said to have lied to the tax-collecting body that he was a student returning to Malawi from South Africa to evade duty on a VW Amarok, double cab, which he registered as BZ 1382, in his name.
The car was discovered by an Interpol search which Malawi Police Service joined, and they relocated it at a garage in Blantyre.
Humair, who is also wanted by police with a warrant of arrest also hanging on his head for a number of criminal charges, will be answering to the charges by police relating to the ‘hot car’ and also to MRA for the duty evasion.
Sources both at police in Blantyre and MRA said the cases would move upon his arrest. He is reported to be outside Malawi.
The warrant of arrest issued against Humair requires investigators from Blantyre Police Station who applied for it to hunt the suspect and bring him before the court.
“This is to authorise and require you to enter into upon and arrest the said suspect, and if arrested, to take possession of the said suspect and produce the same forthwith before this court,” reads the warrant of arrest in part.
The warrant explains the offence is suspected to have occurred on December 15 2022 when the suspect brought the car into Malawi dishonestly.
On the other hand, police are also investigating Kauser Salim Jussab, a mother to Humair and Shabir, over another car also suspected to be hot.
Police, under Anti-Motor Car Theft Department based at South West Region Police, have been hunting for Kauser in connection to information they have that her Mercedes Benz, registration number HENN4 is a stolen car.
Our sources at South West Region Police disclosed that officers went to Fasa Factory in Mapanga at one point, owned by her family, looking for her and the car, but they did not find her and the car.
We have information that South African Police Services (SAPS) have been alerted to help hunt for Kauser Salim Jussab over the stolen can, as she was, reported to be in Durban.
President Lazarus Chakwera has said the death of a renown veteran politician, John ZU Tembo is shocking and of great loss to the country and Malawi Congress Party, saying Tembo was a basket of wisdom.
Speaking upon his arrival at Kamuzu International Airport from United States of America where he attended the 78th United Nations General Assembly, Chakwera said Tembo’s death is one of those end of an era type events as his career as far as Malawi’s developmental trajectory stands out for everyone to see.
“We were saddened, but at the same time we rejoice for his service to the nation. Right Honorable John ZU Tembo had not only been there as young man when we fought for independence, he was one of those young people that founding President had trusted with portfolios in cabinet right from get go” Said Chakwera in remembering late Tembo’s contribution to the nation.
On the 78th UN General Assembly where he went, President Chakwera expressed his happiness to have represented Malawi and other nations under the Least Developed Countries, having just handed over the chairmanship of the group.
“So I spoke concerning things that really have troubled Least Developed Countries like Malawi, and then I had side meetings, and I was happy that the Secretary General was able to send an Assistant Secretary General for humanitarian to the Malawi-Partners development meeting” Added President Chakwera.
During the UN General Assembly in New York, President Chakwera also held other side meetings with Malawi’ development and investment in Trade, and whom some have already showed tremendous potential determination to be part of Malawi investment.
Former ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) says it will appeal to the Supreme Court of Malawi against the rulling of the High Court for the party to hold its elective convention within 90 days.
The High Court Judge, Simeon Mdeza on Friday ruled that the party should go to the convention and that only eligible candidates recognized by the party’s constitution should contest during the Indaba.
However in a statement, the party’s Spokesperson Shadric Namalomba, says the party’s Central Executive Committee(CEC) yesterday banged heads over the rulling and agreed to challenge it.
“While the DPP respects orders of the courts, it is also within its rights to appeal to the Malawi Supreme Court of Appeal,” says Namalomba in a statement.
Judge Mdeza on Friday nullified the proceedings and resolutions of the National Governing Council (NGC) meeting DPP held on July 3 2023.
The DPP Vice President for the Southern region, Kondwani Nankhumwa and others dragged the party to court challenging the legitimacy of NGC members.
Since the party was booted out of government, there has been fierce battle for power within the party.
The ministry of education has on Sunday announced closure of Chimbota private secondary school in NKhata-Bay for operating without meeting basic requirements and authorisation by the ministry.
In a letter signed by the minister of education Madalitso Kambauwa Wirima, dated September 15, 2023, the ministry inspected the school and was convinced that the school does not meet basic requirements.
Kambauwa
The ministry also says Chimbota owes it about MK6 million in maintenance of the school when the private owner offered it to government last year when they declared themselves bankrupt before withdrawing the offer later.
However, the school’s director, Kevin Troughton says the school will continue operating as the ministry played delaying tactics to inspect and issue them a new license after several consultations adding that the school never became bankrupt.
Troughton further denied that the school owing the ministry the said amount of money claimed to have been spent during the one year period it was turned into government’s institution.
