The High Court Judge Glady Gondwe sitting in Mzuzu has adjourned to Thursday 20, 2023 a case in which former President Peter Mutharika’s stepson, Tadikira Mafubza and seven others are answering aggravated manslaughter and trafficking in persons charges.
Through his lawyer Kolezi Phiri, the third accused person David Luhanga asked for an adjournment saying he was not feeling good following a road accident he was involved in some days ago.
Phiri, a Legal Aid Advocate, told the court that his client has developed fever which is making him difficult to fully participate in the proceedings and that the dictates of a fair trial require that any accused person should be present in court and in good health.
The State through Dzikondianthu Malunda from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) did not object to the request saying despite that they want a speedy trial, the case involves Luhanga and as such, his attendance is important.
Currently out on bail, Tadikira and the seven others are facing 12 counts which collectively form two charges of aggravated manslaughter and trafficking in persons.
The seven others are Samuel Navaya, Luhanga, Thomson Kazembe, Ducnam Kalulu, Boniface Ngulube, Aubrey Dukes and Arnold Mwakiyelo.
On Tuesday, three people yesterday testified against Former President Peter Mutharika’s stepson, Tadikira Mafubza and seven others, before High Court Judge Justice Glady Gondwe sitting in Mzuzu.
The three State witnesses, Saidi Ndhlovu who, in accompany with his young brother discovered the mass grave, Wyton Ndhlovu a village head and a forestry extension officer Prisca Simeju established facts about the discovery of the graves and how the authorities were involved.
The first day of the hearing centered on how the graves were discovered buy the locals who went hunting in Mtangatanga Forest Reserve in Mzimba, involvement of traditional and community security officers as well as the reporting to Police.
It was mainly the State’s field day as the defense just sat back. There was no extensive cross-examination.
In October last year, the remains of 30 people who are allegedly Ethiopian nationals have been exhumed from a grave located within Mtangatanga Forest Reserve in Mzimba.
Police said all victims are male aged between 25 and 40.
Official records indicate that a majority of migrants who are caught in Malawi use the country as a transit point with their final destinations mostly being South Africa, Europe or the US.
In 2022 alone, 221 migrants have been intercepted and 186 of them were Ethiopian nationals.
