Progress has stalled in the murder case involving Lester Maganga, a personal assistant to Minister of Information and Digitisation Moses Kunkuyu, with both the State and defence unsure of when proceedings will resume.
Maganga is accused of having a hand in the murder of Alan Wittika, formerly of Coca-Cola Beverages Company Malawi, in Lilongwe last September.
Presiding High Court Judge Mzondi Mvula adjourned the matter, which had drawn considerable public attention, on April 3 for continuation of the State’s case.
On the last day of hearing, the State paraded its eighth witness Paulo Mvula, but indicated it was remaining with about four more to conclude the list of State witnesses in the matter.
The court set April 9 for continuation of hearing proceedings. However, the matter failed to proceed.
Further, the court is yet to deliver a ruling on a bail application filed by Maganga’s lawyers.
In an interview yesterday, Gonjetso Dikiya, one of the lawyers representing the accused, said they were awaiting a fresh date for the continuation of the hearing.
But when asked about the status of the case, Ministry of Justice spokesperson Frank Namangale said on Thursday the Judiciary was best-placed to comment on the matter.
High Court and Supreme Court of Appeal registrar Kondwani Banda was not available when contacted yesterday.
The stalling of the murder case comes at a time when some lawyers from the Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP) handling the matter have not been attending court because their practising licences have not been renewed.
Wittika’s lifeless body was found dumped in the backseat of his motor vehicle in Area 15 residential estate in Lilongwe on September 20 2023. He was laid to rest at Misesa Cemetery in Blantyre on September 22.
