Chanthunya to be extradited soon—DPP

Malawi Government has said all is set for the extradition of fugitive Misozi  Chanthunya who ran away to South Africa after  allegedly murdering his Zimbabwean girlfriend Linda Gasa  five years ago.

Speaking in an interview, Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Bruno Kalemba said his office is waiting for communication from government of South Africa following Treasury’s approval of funds needed toextradite Chanthunya.

“We need him in Malawi urgently, but there are processes which we must follow and right now we are waiting to hear from government of South Africa for the next course of action,” said Kalemba.

After the decision by the Extradition Magistrate in Rustenburg, South Africa to have Chanthunya detained while awaiting the decision to extradite him to Malawi, Chanthunya appealed the Extradition Magistrates’ decision to the High Court which upheld the decision.

Chanthunya then applied for leave to appeal the decision of the High Court.

But in February this year, Chanthunya withdrew his application for leave to appeal and Kalemba said what this means is that the record of his case was sent to the Minister of Justice in South Africa for his decision in terms of their Extradition Act.

Chanthunya was captured in Rustenburg in January 2012 by International Police (Interpol) after being on the run for 17 months.