Court discharges former minister Chazama, three others in abuse of office case
The Chief Resident Magistrate’s Court in Blantyre has discharged former Homeland Security Minister Cecelia Chazama and three former senior officials from the Department of Immigration and Citizenship Services in an abuse of public office case linked to the 2017 recruitment of immigration constables.
The discharged officials are Masauko Katchule Medi, Pudenciana Makalamba, and Chandiwira Chandy Chidothe.
Presiding over the matter, Chief Resident Magistrate Paul Chiotcha ruled that the court had been compelled to discharge the accused persons after the State once again sought an adjournment and failed to produce a witness for continuation of trial proceedings.
The court noted that the matter, which was last adjourned in October 2024, returned for hearing on May 6, 2026, but the prosecution was still not ready to proceed with the case.
Magistrate Chiotcha further observed that the State had persistently failed to comply with a court order issued in April 2024 directing prosecutors to disclose documents relevant to the case, despite being granted ample time and several extensions to either produce the documents or provide an explanation.
In his ruling, the magistrate said the court had also considered an application by Chidothe through his lawyer, Bright Theu, seeking either a discharge or dismissal of the matter.
The court stated that the State appeared either unable or unwilling to proceed with the prosecution and had failed to provide convincing reasons for another adjournment or a satisfactory explanation for the lack of progress in the case.
The accused persons were discharged under Section 247(1) of the Criminal Procedure and Evidence Code.
However, the court said the discharge will only become absolute and operate as an acquittal if no fresh proceedings are commenced against the accused persons within 12 months.
“The discharge shall become absolute and operate as an acquittal for all purposes if no subsequent proceedings are commenced against the accused persons with respect to the subject matter of the charges herein within 12 months in terms of section 247(2) of the Criminal Procedure and Evidence Code,” reads the discharge order.
The case dates back to 2022 when the Anti-Corruption Bureau dragged eight public officers to court on allegations of abuse of public office over the 2017 immigration recruitment exercise.
