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State want magistrate recused from Chaponda case

The State, represented by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has filed an application requesting the recusal of the presiding Magistrate Simeon Mdeza from hearing the corruption-related case involving former minister of Agriculture George Chaponda and director of Transglobe Produce Limited, Rashid Tayub.

The State wants Mdeza recused following his remarks last Thursday during a meeting in the magistrate’s chambers.

Former minister of Agriculture George Chaponda

The remarks according to the State, were deemed to be in favour of Transglobe. According to the State, Mdeza questioned why the State was “victimising Transglobe who are good taxpayers”.

The State has further applied that the matter should also be transferred to the High Court.

Mdeza is expected to make a ruling on Wednesday afternoon on whether to proceed hearing the matter or to recuse himself from the high-profile case.

The court was today scheduled to proceed with testimonies of State witnesses after the court last week heard testimonies of principal witnesses, Foster Mulumbe, former Admarc chief executive officer and also Feckson Kantonga, the former director of operations for Admarc. 

Chaponda, first accused in the case, and Tayub, who is second accused are answering to criminal charges relating to the suspicious procurement of maize from Zambia. Besides the two, the case also includes Grace Mijiga-Mhango, a businesswoman and chairperson of the Grain Traders and Processors Association of Malawi (GTPA).

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