NB businessperson under pressure to drop case against former ministers

The man suing six former ministers who addressed a news conference at night to announce the blocking of the then vice-president Joyce Banda from assuming the presidency is under pressure from some of them to drop the case, The Nation has learnt.

 

Nkhata Bay businessperson Watson Katawa claimed on Tuesday that two of the six former ministers have phoned him pleading with him to drop the case since President Joyce Banda is preaching about forgiveness.

“I cannot disclose their names at the moment, but I am under pressure to drop the case,” said Katawa. “The ones who phoned me said there was no need for me to pursue the case because H.E [President Joyce Banda] said her government will not practise politics of vengeance.”

Claimed Katawa: “I told them that I am not an agent of government and I am not acting on behalf of government. I am a businessperson who is acting as a concerned citizen. So, I have put my foot down that the case will proceed and my lawyers are already working on the matter.”

Katawa wants former ministers Patricia Kaliati, Vuwa Kaunda, Jean Kalilani, Henry Mussa and ex-deputy ministers Nicholas Dausi and Kondwani Nakhumwa to answer charges of sedition and conduct likely to cause breach of peace.

“We don’t want some people to do the same in future. We should all learn to respect the Constitution no matter what position of advantage we hold in society. I have warned them that if they continue phoning me, I will report to the Anti-Corruption Bureau,” said Katawa.

He said his lawyers have already done the paperwork and that the matter is expected in court next month.

“My interest is not all the ministers who were in the meeting, but the ones who addressed the press conference,” said Katawa, who also walked from Usisya to Nkhata Bay District Council to present a petition when renowned lawyer Ralph Kasambara was arrested.

He argued there is no political interest in the case and that he has not been influenced by any inducement apart from ensuring that peace and order prevail in the country.

Said Katawa: “I am a businessperson…I will pay the legal fees from my pocket.”