Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Times News
Published on 2024-04-09 06:58:49
Lilongwe Senior Resident Magistrate Wanangwa Nyirenda has adjourned the hearing of a case involving two former procurement officers in the Ministry of Health to April 29, 2024. Roseline Mwenye and Dominic Chimaliro are facing charges of misprocurement for allegedly abusing their office when awarding a contract for the supply of non-medical equipment for the National Cancer Centre in Lilongwe. The contract, valued at approximately K983 million, was awarded to FJ Medical Supplies and General Dealers in 2019.
In previous court proceedings, the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) presented seven witnesses against the two defendants, leading the court to determine that they have a case to answer. During cross-examination, Chimaliro denied all charges against him, claiming that he did not attend the meeting for Lot Four of the procurement process. The State alleges that the meeting did not have all committee members present for a financial evaluation exercise.
Gift Katundu, the lawyer representing Mwenye, stated that their theory has been effectively presented to the court. He argued that the evidence does not support the claim that someone was sent out but signed for the process that took place. Eric Salima, the lawyer for Chimaliro, expressed satisfaction with the progression of the case, stating that it is going well. ACB Senior Assistant Legal and Prosecutions Officer Brian Nashire indicated that they would await the court’s determination of the matter before deciding on their next steps.
Nyirenda is expected to hear submissions from the lawyers before proceeding with the case. The defense lawyers have presented their arguments and are awaiting the court’s decision on the matter. The fate of Mwenye and Chimaliro will be determined based on the evidence and arguments presented in court. The allegations of misprocurement and abuse of office will be carefully considered before a final verdict is reached.
As the legal process continues, stakeholders are urged to respect the court proceedings and await the outcome of the case. Both the defense and prosecution have presented their arguments, and it is now up to the court to determine the validity of the charges against the defendants. The importance of transparency and accountability in procurement processes is highlighted through this case, emphasizing the need for adherence to legal and ethical standards in public procurement.
Read the original article on The Times
