Mystery surrounds Ntata

The simple question is: why is former presidential legal adviser Allan Ntata not on Interpol wanted list eight months after he was charged with treason?

There are no answers; at least not those Malawians would want to hear. Police are tongue-tied whereas Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Bruno Kalemba and Minister of Justice Fahad Assani have no information on why Ntata’s name is not on Interpol website, www.interpol.int.

The inaction and silence on Ntata have set tongues wagging whether the treason trial is, after all, a sham.

While Ntata is walking freely in the United Kingdom (UK) where he is reportedly teaching and studying, 11 others are standing trial for allegedly taking part in a plot to stop President Joyce Banda from ascending to power following the death of Bingu wa Mutharika in April 2012.

Ntata left the country before the late Mutharika was buried. In March 2013, he was charged in absentia alongside Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) president Peter Mutharika, interdicted chief secretary to government Bright Msaka, Msaka’s former deputy Necton Mhura, former Cabinet ministers Dr Jean Kalirani, Goodall Gondwe, Patricia Kaliati, Symon Vuwa Kaunda, Henry Mussa; former deputy ministers Kondwani Nankhumwa and Nicholas Dausi; and former presidential guard commander Duncan Mwapasa.

More recent cases involving suspected kingpin in the cashgate scandal Osward Lutepo and Pika Manondo, a suspect in the shooting of budget director Paul Mphwiyo, have seen the names of the accused on Interpol website.

Nation on Sunday efforts to seek official explanation on why Interpol has not been engaged to pursue Ntata were met with blank stares from those who should have the answers.

First, Kalemba said his office waits for investigators to furnish him with information before he acts.  He referred the matter to police.

Police spokesperson Rhoda Manjolo asked for a questionnaire, which was sent to her 10 days ago, but she has not sent a response despite several reminders.

Her deputy Kelvin Maigwa tossed the ball back to his boss. Inspector General of police Loti Dzonzi also refused to explain why Ntata is not on Interpol wanted list, arguing that Manjolo and Maigwa have the answers.

Desperate for answers, we sought the intervention of Assani, who threw us back to Kalemba.

It was a circus that led nowhere. So, why can’t somebody explain the decision to leave Ntata off the hook?

Expert in international law Dr Mwiza Nkhata said everything points to the fact that the State is not interested in getting hold of Ntata despite pointers to his whereabouts.

“If government seriously wanted him apprehended, they would have taken steps to achieve the same. Presently, it seems for all the noise surrounding Ntata’s supposed escape from Malawi, no real effort has been/is being made to have him arrested,” said Nkhata.

A prominent lawyer who did not want to be identified said there is a possibility that the State feels its case against Ntata is too weak to secure a conviction.

If this line of argument holds, the prospect of the whole treason case collapsing at some point is a distinct scenario.

“The State might have acted too quickly and rushed to make arrests. I met Ntata four months ago and that is surprising for a fugitive.

“Again, we understand that Necton Mhura’s name is missing on the charge sheet. That is very strange as a name cannot miss without an explanation. This all seems like political persecution and could mean that Mhura was quietly dropped,” said the lawyer.