The Malawi Judicial Service Commission has fired Mlenga Mvula who was the Judiciary spokesperson and has also interdicted two third grade magistrates in Blantyre and Mzuzu.
Confirming the development to the local media, was Registrar of the High Court Agness Patemba.
The registrar said Mvula and two third grade magistrates have met this fate due to indiscipline and unprofessionalism.
“Yes I can confirm that Mlenga Mvula is no longer judiciary spokesperson; he has been fired after all the necessary procedures were taken by the commission on his case. And it is true two magistrates have been interdicted, one from Blantyre and another in Mzuzu,” Patemba said.
She however did not provide more information about the interdiction claiming the information is not meant to be in the public domain.
Patemba further said the commission is still deliberating on the matter involving third grade magistrate TrustGod Mkandawire of Edingeni who was also suspended on allegations of unethical practice.
Mvula was in September 2017 arrested by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) following reports that he corruptly solicited money and other favours from the United Methodist Church in the names of High Court judges and the Attorney General’s office.
ACB spokesperson Egritta Ndala said Mvula solicited up to K10.7 million from Reverend Daniel Mhone and other two senior members of the church, promising that he would influence the outcome of a case between one Reverend Jawati and the church in question.
After the arrest, Mvula was suspended from his position pending internal investigations.
Meanwhile, ACB Director General Reyneck Matemba said the case was brought in court last week but was not heard as most magistrates recused themselves from handling it claiming they both worked with Mvula.
“Ideally, the case was to be tried at the High Court but most magistrates recused [Mvula] being someone they know and worked with for some time. So we applied that it should go to the higher court,” said Matemba.
