Another medic charged over Kotanna’s deathinputs,” she explained.

The Pharmacy and Medicines Regulatory Authority (PMRA) has suspended pharmacy technician Rafik Mustapha for dispensing incorrect medication to Kotanna Chidyaonga, who later died in January 2020.

In a statement released yesterday, PMRA says Mustapha has been suspended from practice for six months for negligence, which violates principles of the Pharmacy Code of Ethics.

Reads the statement: “Negligence. Contravention of the Pharmacy Code of Ethics on Principles 3 and 5: He was found negligent in discharging his duties, which led to the dispensing of incorrect medication. His conduct in failing to conduct good dispensing procedure is against the code of ethics that guides the pharmacy profession”.

Mustapha worked at Poly Care Clinic where Chidyaonga was first treated for a snake bite; before she was referred to Kamuzu Central Hospital where she was pronounced dead.

The guilty verdict by PMRA follows a complaint from late Chidyaonga’s boyfriend Timothy Mtilosanje, who was among those arrested and faced murder trial for her death, but were later acquitted.

Mustapha is the third medic to be found in the wrong on this matter. Last year, the Medical Council of Malawi (MCM) board, also found guilty pathologist Dr. Charles Dzamalala and Dr. Ruth Chimutu of Poly Care Clinic.

Dzamala was found guilty for “definitively concluding that the late Kottana Chidyaonga died of termic poison”. Two other medical experts contradicted his conclusion and pointed to wrong prescription as a possible cause of death.

The pathologist is protesting the verdict and expressed intention to go to court.

Chimutu was accused of medical negligence in relation to the treatment she gave Chidyaonga and she was suspended from practice for three months.

Chidyaonga died under controversial circumstances. Four people, including Mtilosanje, were arrested for murder, but the High Court acquitted them in August 2020 for lack of evidence.

Dissatisfied with the High Court judgement, the State appealed to the Supreme Court, which upheld the High Court ruling.