Business mogul and philanthropist Thom Mpi nganj i ra ha s formally withdrawn his appeal against conviction and sentence after former president Lazarus Chakwera granted him presidential pardon on July 6 2025.
In a notice of withdrawal of appeal dated September 15 2025 which The Nation has seen, Mpinganjira, founder of FDH Financial Holdings Limited, informed the chief registrar of the High Court and Supreme Court of Appeal that he will no longer pursue his appeal.
Mpinganjira, who was on court bail, was among 37 inmates Chakwera pardoned as part of the country’s 61st Independence Anniversary Celebration.
Reads the notice: “Having filed an appeal before the Malawi Supreme Court of Appeal against the said convictions and the sentences and currently being on bail pending the hearing and determination of the appeal;
previous hearing. | Nation
“And whereas [then] President of the Republic of Malawi Dr Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera, in exercise of his presidential powers of pardon under Section 89 (2) of the Constitution of the Republic of Malawi and as part of the 6th July 2025 Independence celebrations, pardoned the said Dr Thomson Frank Mpinganjira of the convictions offences of [1] offering an advantage to a public officer namely, Justice Michael Atanazio Tembo contrary to Section 24 (2) of the Corrupt Practices Act, and offering an advantage to a public officer namely, Justice Healey Potani contrary to Section 24 (2) of the Corrupt Practices Act;
“The said Dr. Thomson Frank Mpinganjira, the appel lant herein, does hereby withdraw his Appeal before the Supreme Court of Appeal.”
Mpinganjirawas challenging the High Court’s decision that convicted and sentenced him to nine years imprisonment on two counts of offering an advantage to the said public officers.
The charges stemmed from allegations that he attempted to bribe judges of the High Court sitting as a Constitutional Court who presided over the historic 2019 presidential election case that led to the annulment of the election results.
On what the pardon means to the conviction, Maele refused to divulge details, saying he has not received instructions from his client.
“I am sure that when the
right time to say something about it [come], we will do that. But for now we cannot say anything,” he said.
Section 89 (2) of the Constitution provides that the President may pardon convicted offenders, grant stays of execution of sentence, reduce sentences, or remit sentences.
Mpinganjira’s pardon came at a time there was growing concerns over secrecy in the country’s presidential pardon process, sparking demands for reforms to ensure transparency and fairness.
Centre for Human Rights and Rehabilitation (CHRR) executive director Michael Kaiyatsa is on record as having said several aspects of the pardon system require urgent review.
Mpinganjira was arrested in January 2020 following a complaint former Chief Justice Andrew Nyirenda lodged with the Anti- Corruption Bureau that there were attempts to bribe the five High Court judges to rule in favour of the then governing Democratic Progressive Party president Peter Mutharika in the presidential election nullification petition.
The businessperson was answering six charges under the Corrupt Practices Act, but was convicted on two counts.
He was found guilty on September 10 2021 by High Court Judge Dorothy DeGabrielle who sentenced him to nine years imprisonment.
