Kasambara cleared off Manondo and Mphwiyo deals

In the continued hearing of the attempted murder case of former budget Director Paul Mphwiyo the second accused person in the shooting Pika Manondo says his co-accused who is the ex Justice Minister Ralph Kasambara was not part of deals that transpired between him, the alleged shooter Macdonald Kumwembe, his brother Dauka and the ailing Mphwiyo.

Pika Manondo is together with Kumwembe, a former Malawi Defence Force (MDF) soldier and Kasambara charged in the attempted murder case.

In the continued cross-examination, Mandondo disclosed that Mphwiyo had given him money amounting to K300 000 which he was supposed to give to Kumwembe later on.

The Lilongwe High Court had initially learnt through Pika’s brother, Dauka that Mphwiyo and Pika were together in South Africa to strike a deal worth $145 million (about K58 billion) with Paramount Group, Africa’s largest private defence and aerospace firm.

Paramount Group signed deals with the Malawian government for agriculture, fuel and military contracts through a network of investment firms.

Pika and Mphwiyo were in South Africa for a week and returned home a few days before the shooting.

He also said that prior to the shooting, Mphwiyo who served as directors of Regit Auctioneers and Estate Agents had asked Dauka to find him two house to buy within the ranges of K150 million and K200 million.

However, on the deposit Dauka made, the court heard that he falsified the name of the depositor and telephone number.

But Pika Manondo confirmed that the money came from Mphwiyo while disclosing that Kasambara was not part of the whole deals.

This is in the continued  twists the case has taken lately.

It was an attempt on Mphwiyo’s life by unknown assailants that triggered the discovery of the widespread corruption scandal christened Cashgate which is currently pegged at MK24 billion (US$53 million).