Masangwi refuses to testify in bus depot case

UTM Party national chairperson Noel Masangwi has refused to be a defence witness in the ongoing bus depot case in which the State wants to prove that the assets were acquired illegally.

In an interview on Monday, he confirmed the development, arguing he has nothing to say in court because he does not know anything about the matter.

But one of the defence lawyers John Kalampa, in a separate interview, expressed optimism that Masangwi is among witnesses who showed willingness to testify and that the defence team is confident that by the time the matter resumes the witnesses will be ready to testify.

The High Court of Malawi Financial and Economics Crimes Division adjourned the matter to February 5-7 2024 when Masangwi and another witness Imman Ibrahim are expected to testify, according to the defence.

But Masangwi said: “I told them [the defence] I cannot testify because I sold my shares at the initial stages and what happened after, I don’t know. I really have nothing to testify.”

However, Kalampa insists that they have a number of witnesses to parade, particularly those that were present at the inception phase of the public private partnership (PPP) arrangement when taking over from the then defunct Shire Bus Lines Limited.

The Attorney General  dragged National Bus Services Limited to court for allegedly illegally acquiring bus depots and workshops which formerly belonged to State–owned Shire Bus Lines before its liquidation in 2007. n