Malawi’s Tractor-gate case: Two govt Principal Secretaries Nyandule Phiri, Cliff Chiunda get 24 months suspended sentence

LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-The High Court in Lilongwe on Friday, March 6, 2020 sentenced two Principal Secretaries for Agriculture and Finance, Grey Nyandule Phiri and Cliff Chiunda respectively to custodial sentence of nine months each for contempt of court and suspended to 24 months.

After citing several examples of cases inline with public officers disobeying court order, Justice Mkandawire said the two deserved no mercy because they failed to respect the law.

Mkandawire added that the two failed to comply with the court order despite being advised to make the public apology.

According to Mkandawire, the Ombudsman also tried to remind the two that the 60 days time frame given by Supreme Court to make the public apology is coming to an end but they still choose not to apologise.

This means that the convicts will not serve the sentence instead are ordered not to come conflict with Malawi laws for the two years.

However, government is yet to discipline the two.