LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-President Lazarus Chakwera has pardoned veteran politician and former cabinet minister, Henry Mussa, on medical grounds.
Mussa was sentenced to nine years imprisonment for conspiring and receiving stolen property.
Minister of Homeland Security Kenneth Zikhale Ng’oma confirmed Mussa’s release from cell development on Friday, July 21, 2023.
Ng’oma further disclosed that Mussa had been pardoned together with 10 other prisoners who were chronically ill.
Mussa, former Minister of Information under the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP)-led administration, was arrested in 2020 for stealing computers and generators meant for District Information Offices across the country.
Henry Mussa and Gedion Munthali jailed for public theft
LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-Lilongwe Court Judge Patrick Chirwa on Thursday, March 2, 2023 sentenced sentenced former Minister of Information Henry Mussa to three years imprisonment for the offence of conspiracy to steal and six years imprisonment for the offence of receiving stolen property.
The same court also jailed former Director of Information Gideon Munthali to three years imprisonment for conspiracy to commit a felony and 6 years imprisonment for theft by public person.
The duo’s sentencing follows their convictions in October last year in relation to the case of 10 computers and a genset which disappeared at the Ministry of Information.
In its submissions, the State argued that the offences were pre-meditated, arguing that there was proper planning and execution of the offence, as evidenced by WhatsApp messages.
But in mitigation, lawyers for the two Kalekeni Kaphale and Powell Nkhutabasa asked the court to consider giving the convicts a non-custodial sentence, considering that they served the nation as public servants; refunded the money for the gadgets; and have been in custody for the last four months.
He added that Mussa’s advanced age may not match with prison conditions.
Nkhutabasa also asked the court to exercise leniency with the two, saying they were first-offenders, and that Mussa was in ill health.
But the State asked the court to give the two stiff penalties to deter other public servants from engaging in similar conduct.
Both their sentences shall run concurrently, starting from the date of conviction.
LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-The Chief Resident Magistrate Court, sitting in Lilongwe on Tuesday, October 25, 2022 convicted former Minister of Information Henry Mussa and former director of Information Gideon Munthali for theft by public servants
According to court documents, the duo stole Malawi government computers and a generator meant for the Ministry of Information worth MK10.1 million.
High Court Judge Patrick Chirwa, sitting as Chief Resident Magistrate, found the two guilty of conspiring to commit a felony.
Further, Chirwa found Munthali guilty on the charge of theft by public servant after he failed to surrender the computers and generator to the ministry of information.
The however Judge noted that Munthali was supposed to deliver the computers to the ministry not to Mussa’s house as it happened.
The Court further said the former director of Information errored to keep a desktop computer at his house saying if he needed one for his work, should have been placed it in his office.
Meanwhile, the two awaits sentencing, which will happen at a later date.
This means the duo’s bail is revoked waiting sentencing.
Mussa and Munthali were arrested in September 2020.
Former Information Minister Henry Mussa and former Director of Information, who were arrested in connection with the theft of 10 desktop computers and three generators worth K11.5 million, have been found with a case to answer.
Lilongwe Chief Resident Magistrate Patrick Chirwa, who is presiding over the case, made the determination on Tuesday, 22 June 2021.
Chirwa has since adjourned the case to July 26 for the two, through their lawyers, to prepare their defence.
Mussa and Munthali are believed to have stolen the items when they were both working at the Ministry of Information.
They were arrested on 13th September 2020 and are answering charges of theft by public servant and abuse of office.
The items were a donation from the Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA) meant for district information offices.
Gogo Gowoka might become the first Malawian Facebook personality to pay extremely high price for Cyberbullying and character assassination, this publication can irrevocably confirm.
The ground has suddenly become too tough for Upson Mkandawire, commonly known as Gogo gowoka on Facebook as he is at the virtue of Zomba maximum prison following cyberbullying, character assassination and other related crimes on Former Senior Cabinet Minister, Henry Mussa.
Just like other overzealous Facebook personalities, Gogo Gowoka posted on his wall that Hon Henry Mussa borrowed MK40 Million from Malawi Enterprise Development Fund (MEDEF), now known as NEEF ,and did not make any single repayment.
Gogo Gowoka tagged other Facebook users like Edgar Mkanda and other pseudo names (Zigoba) which Mtengo waminga has discovered their real names and will be answering their charges separately as Cyberbullying descends even on anyone who has either shared or commented on the post.
Recently, we witnessed comments from Human Rights activists like Fryson Chodzi who warned on character assassination and cyberbullying and there are green lights now that Malawi will witness the first successful case of cyberbullying as Counsel for Ntengo Waminga have already filed their papers with the courts.
Henry Mussa, commonly known as Ntengo Waminga, is the former Minister in the Democratic Progressive (DPP) government and has done a lot in the country in the area of information and other important areas like Policy direction in information technology, including Arts, culture, music, and the film industry.
Hon Ntengo Waminga is one of the living founding members of the mighty DPP. He is also respected as someone who is down to the earth as he respects people from all walks of life and his contribution to Malawi rises above false allegation of failed loan repayments.
BLANTYRE-(MaraviPost)—Lilongwe Magistrate Court has today denied to grant bail to Henry Mussa, former Minister of Information in the deposed Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) administration, and former director of information Gideon Munthali.
Mussa and Munthali were picked by police on Sunday for being suspected of stealing government property while they were in office.
The former minister who has served presidents Bakili Muluzi, Bingu wa Mutharika and Peter Mutharika and former Member of Parliament for Chiradzulu was arrested after being implicated by Munthali in the crime of stealing nine computers and three diesel generators donated to the Ministry of Information by the Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority.
The suspects appeared before Lilongwe Magistrate Court where they were formally charged.
Through their lawyers, they applied for bail but making his ruling, Principal Resident Magistrate Viva Nyimba refused to release the dual to allow the State to complete its investigations.
Nyimba has since adjourned the case to 21st September, 2020 when the court will determine whether to give the suspects bail or continue keeping them on remand.
Former Malawi information minister in the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) administration Henry Mussa alongside former information director were on Sunday, September 13, 2020 arrested by police suspected of stealing government property while in office.
Sources at Police Headquarters in Area 30, Lilongwe have confirmed Mussa’s and Munthali’s arrest.
The former minister who served presidents, Bakili Muluzi, Bingu wa Mutharika and Peter Mutharika and former Member of Parliament for Chiradzulu was said to be arrested Sunday afternoon in Blantyre and bundled into a police vehicle taken to Lilongwe.
While former director of information and journalist Munthali was also arrested for allegedly stealing 10 computers and generators from the ministry of information.
Munthali who is currently being held at Lingadzi Police station in Area 18 in Lilongwe is said to have implicated his former boss, Henry Mussa in the theft.
BLANTYRE-(MaraviPost)—As former President Peter Mutharika is facing opposition within the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), veteran politician Henry Mussa, popularly known as ‘Mtengowaminga’ in politics, has denied to take up a position of deputy secretary of the party.
Mussa was one of the DPP officials who were offered interim appointments following the party’s Central Executive Committee meeting held on 4th and 27th August, 2020 at Mutharika’s residence in Mangochi.
But today Wednesday, the country’s local media reports that Mussa wrote the party’s General Secretary Grezelder Jeffrey on 29th August denying the position on grounds that the position was constitutionally won at the convention by another official and he still remains the legitimate holder of the position.
“It is with considerable regret and emotional pain that I would like to recuse myself for taking up the offered position for now. I have struggled a lot to reach this decision but I have ultimately resolved that given the circumstances and in conformity with both my personal and political principles, recusing myself from taking up the said postion remains the best option.
“For the sake of removing any potential doubt, I would like to emphasize that I have not in any way rejected the position but rather recused myself from taking up it,” reads the letter as quoted in local media.
He added that at the party’s national convention the position was contested and Nicholas Dausi emerged “Constitutionally, legitimate and mandated holder of the position and until the Central Executive Committee meeting, which resolved to appoint me to the said position in deputy capacity.”
“There has never been any official communication that the incumbent holder of the position has either quit the position on his own volition for personal or political reasons or been suspended and even removed for breach of party code of conduct as enshrined in party constitution,” he argued.
Commenting on the development, newly appointed spokesperson Brown Mpinganjira said Mussa has the right to accept or reject the offer.
Mpinganjira proceeded to say that the party will move on with or without Mussa.
Henry Mussa is one of the founders of DPP and was a Member of Parliament for Chiradzulu East but lost it to youthful Joseph Nomale. He also served both former President Peter Mutharika and late Bingu Wa Mutharika in different ministerial positions.
He was a part of the “Midnight six”, a group of Malawians that allegedly plotted a constitutional coup after the death of President Bingu wa Mutharika. He was also the funeral chair of wa Mutharika’s funeral.
Meanwhile, two factions have emerged in the once mighty party with one group calling for an early elective convention to replace Mutharika with another person to steer the agenda of the party as they strive to reorganize and strengthen the party in readiness for 2025 elections.
Mzuzu-(Marapost)—Embattled former ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) has effected some changes in the party’s National Executive Committee (Nec) amidst infighting that has rocked the once mighty party.
According to a press statement issued by the party’s newly appointed spokesperson, Brown Mpinganjira, on 4th and 27th August, 2020, the party’s Central Committee held an indaba at its president Arthur Peter Mutharika’s current residence in Mangochi where the changes were effected.
“The Central Committee discussed various issues relevant to the rebuilding and strengthening of the Party after the 23rd June 2020 Presidential Elections. The Central Committee also considered all matters of interest and of concern to members of the DPP as received by the Central Committee through various means,” the statement reads in part.
Among other changes, the party central committee has elected Mr. Andrew Matemba as its Director of Elections, replacing Ben Malunga Phiri who recently resigned from the position on personal grounds; Brown Mpinganjira has replaced Nicholas Dausi and his deputy is Henry Mussa.
The party has also appointed Sheik Emran Mtenje as its Regional Governor responsible for the Eastern Region.
On the matter of the party’s Secretary General, Grezelder Jeffrey, the party Central Committee has disclosed the decision to fire her has been rescinded and the matter has been referred to the party’s disciplinary committee to determine her fate.
George Chaponda has been appointed to chair the disciplinary hearing.
Recently, some senior members of the party have been championing for change of the party’s leadership.
Jeffrey and others have publicly declared that it is time for APM to relinquish power to other diehards of the party to take up its presidency. The idea seem not to have gone down well with the 23 June, 2020 defeated Mutharika; hence his decision to fire Jeffrey from her position.
Mutharika once told Nec members of the party that he is not giving up the party’s presidency until its next convention in 2023.
Quizzed on the future of Nicholas Dausi who was the party’s publicist, Brown Mpinganjira said nothing has changed as him and Henry Mussa have been appointed to complement Dausi’s job.
However, commentators have said practically Dausi has been fired considering that the duty that will be performed by Mpinganjira is similar to what Dausi was doing.
LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-Information reaching The Maravi Post reveals that Malawi former Minister and NIB Chief Spy Nicholas Dausi was Saturday, August 8, 2020 being interrogated by Fiscal Police in the capital Lilongwe Lilongwe.
The police are also interrogating Democratic Progressive Party (DPP)’s senior member Henry Mussa regarding to Malawi Energy Regulatory Authority (MERA) funding to the party.
This comes after Dausi was implicated by former local government minister Ben Phiri who claimed the bombastic speaking Dausi along side Jappie Mhango were the masterminders of most of Democratic Progressive Party (DPP’s) thuggery activities.
Among others, it is revealed by insiders that Dausi solicited funds for DPP campaign from government institutions.
The Maravi Post understand that there is also investigation a lead in which Dausi is said to have hijacked a community development to bring electricity to Neno villages and instead directed ESCOM authorities to use the funds to bring electricity to his cattle farm in Mwanza, some kilometres from Neno.
More to come….
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