Mphwiyo privacy not justified—Kanyongolo

Chancellor College associate professor of law Edge Kanyongolo has said there is no justification for the family of shot Ministry of Finance budget director Paul Mphwiyo to demand privacy as their kin remains a public figure with a lot to explain to the Malawi nation.

Kanyongolo’s sentiments and those of other commentators come in the light of a statement by Mphwiyo’s family asking the public and media to stop disturbing their relation because he has already provided his side of the story in connection with the shooting and looting of billions of kwacha from public coffers at Capital Hill.

Said Kanyongolo: “I can understand why the family would want privacy, but Mphwiyo is now a public figure. It would be impossible and undesirable for him to be kept completely out of public spotlight. Whether he likes it or not, people have to look to him for more information on this [Capital Hill cashgate] puzzle.”

The Media Institute of Southern Africa-Malawi Chapter (Misa-Malawi) agreed with Kanyongolo that Mphwiyo is a man connected to an important national issue; hence, cannot be ignored.

Misa-Malawi chairperson Anthony Kasunda said: “As much as the principle of privacy has to be respected, this provision is far outweighed by the fact that he owes the nation some information. The media has that role to solicit information from him. The media should be free to have access to him.”

In a press statement issued on Wednesday evening, the Mphwiyo family claims to have endured a lot of stress and trauma following his shooting and telephone calls from the media but said like any other family they are entitled to privacy and dignity.

The family says the interest from the media to hear Mphwiyo’s side of the story is exacerbating Mphwiyo’s condition and is counter-productive to his recovery.

“We believe that while the general public is entitled to information, Paul and the rest of the family are also entitled to the right to privacy and human dignity especially during this time of Paul’s recovery,” the statement reads.

In an interviewon Thursday, a member of Mphwiyo’s family, Gabriel Rashid, said his relation is under pressure to speak out, but he is very traumatised.

“The nation should wait for the relevant authorities to say something about this. The police and other authorities are carrying out investigations and they will inform the people not Mr Mphwiyo,” said Rashid when queried on the request for privacy.

Mphwiyo is due to meet the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Parliament to explain the role he played as budget director in the theft of government money.

Although police have denied any link between Mphwiyo’s shooting on September 13 2013 and the subsequent revelations of looting, President Joyce Banda hinted at knowing the people behind his shooting because he had attempted to root out theft in the civil service.

But Rashid said he is not aware of Mphwiyo’s pending appearance at the PAC inquiry since his arrival last week Thursday.

About six people have been arrested in connection with Mphwiyo’s shooting, including lawyer and former minister of justice Ralph Kasambara, his bodyguard Keston Gani, a Dauka Manondo, a Robert Kadzuwa and a Macdonald Kumwembe.