The Lilongwe Senior Resident Magistrate’s Court will today deliver its judgement on bail and other applications by former Department of Immigration and Citizenship Services chief Brigadier General Charles Kalumo (Retired).
Kalumo, who was arrested on Sunday, is facing abuse of office charges linked to his tenure as Immigration head from 2022 to 2024.
He was not present in court yesterday due to illness and is receiving treatment.
But Kalumo’s lawyer Chrispine Ndalama made three applications before senior resident magistrate Shukurani Kumbani, including challenging the arrest as being outside the one-year limit under Section 61 of the Criminal Procedure and Evidence Code and the prosecution which by law is supposed to be sanctioned by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) but is being handled by police prosecutors. He also applied for bail.
The magistrate then adjourned the matter to today when he is expected to rule on the applications.
However, before the adjournment, State prosecutor Cecilia Zangazanga opposed the bail aplication, citing the accused’s absence and lack of medical proof, saying his presence is required under Section 93 of the law.
“The court cannot make a decision without supporting documents showing that the accused is sick. His presence in this court is essential,” she told the court.
But Ndalama said the State is aware of his client’s illness as he provided the court with supporting documents dating back to November 2025.
He said Kalumo was arrested and kept in police custody at Lingadzi Police Station in Area 18, Lilongwe and a hunger strike necessitated his transfer to Kamuzu Central Hospital for further treatment after his condition deteriorated.
Said Ndalama: “The results of tests conducted by the facility are yet to be released, but he reported symptoms of numbness and cardiovascular issues. Preliminary results indicate that he suffered a stroke and has high blood pressure.”
Kalumo was arrested on Sunday at Kamuzu International Airport in Lilongwe upon his return from South Africa.
He was appointed by former president Lazarus Chakwera in 2022, replacing Elvis Thodi.
The appointment was later nullified by the High Court in June 2024 following a judicial review application by an Immigration officer who questioned the procedure for Kalumo’s appointment.
Prior to his appointment at Immigration, Kalumo served as national chairperson for the War Veterans and Ex-Service League of Malawi.
