Malawi Sports Minister cleared in K13.6m case

Minister of Sports and Youth Development, Grace Chiumia, has been cleared in a case she was accused of duping Mwiza Mkandawire K13 647 237.

Both lawyers for Mkandawire and Chiumia on Tuesday confirmed that the two parties have agreed to scrap off the minister who was principal defendant in the case as she signed the sale agreement of a lodge and facilitated some of the payments.

Speaking in an interview, Christon Ghambi, lawyer for Mkandawire, said there are a number of factors that led to the removal of Chiumia from the case, among them, that Mkandawire’s family is in dire need of money and the case was dragging because Chiumia was part of the proceedings.

Ghambi said the parties have also agreed to quash the sale agreement to enable Mkandawire sell the property to other potential buyers.

He added the agreement also forbids any further lawsuits and penalties considering that Chiumia threatened to sue for defamation.

“There are no penalties from or for either sides. We have signed consent that there should also be no lawsuits arising from this.

“What we will do is re-advertise the property, sell it and pay back their money. We will pay them in kwacha because the money was paid in kwacha,” said Ghambi.

Chiumia’s lawyer, Patrick Ngwira, said the Americans who bought Mkandawire’s lodge are no longer interested in the property following requests for K13.6 million.

He concurred with Ghambi that they have agreed there will be no lawsuits arising from the matter.