Tag Archives: Ken Ndanga

Law and order, Malawi

UDF’s Ken Ndanga bankrolled gang to petrol bomb Area 24′ three family members

Lloyd M’bwana

LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-A state witness on Tuesday, April 26, 2022 in Lilongwe told Malawi High court that former United Democratic Front (UDF) spokesperson Ken Ndanga gave cash and cellphones to petrol bomb UTM office that killed three members of the same family in 2020 at Area 24 in the city.

The witness testified in a case in which Ndanga and other suspects are accused of torching UTM Party building while killing three members of the Tambala family weeks before the 2020 presidential elections.

Ken Ndanga in court for murder charges

According to the witness Hamilton Bester, Ndanga facilitated logistics for the crime as he provided transport and accommodation as well as money and phones to the gang called Kattar.

The gang had twenty members, including seven who are on trial. The others are reportedly on the run.

Bester said preparations for the arson took place at Area 28 at Kaphiri, until the wee hours of day of the arson, 5 May, 2020.

The witness added that people who became afraid of carrying out the criminal activity were intimidated. According to Bester, he did not take part because he was told to go home.

At Area 24, the Tambala family used to reside in a building which is an office for UTM, the party which Vice President Saulos Chilima leads.

Previously, the building used to be a UDF office but it was painted with UTM colours after a politician dumped UDF for UTM.

In the early hours of 5 May, 2020, the building was petrol-bombed and members of the Tambala family suffered burns.

They were taken to Kamuzu Central Hospital where Seleman Tambala, his wife Ayiles Tambala and 11-year-old son Shukran died.

At the time the crime was committed, Ndanga was spokesperson of the UDF but was fired after he was arrested over the crime.

Cross-examination second witness by the defence team continued telling the court that he went ahead to participate in the crime’s logistics because the members were intimidated and forced against withdrawing.

He has also told the court that he saw gallons filled with fuel, and a two-tonne full of tyres, suspected to be the ones used in the arson.

The defence is grilling the witness on some details which he presented earlier in the court.

Malawi

ADMARC Board finally fires Mulembe and Kantonga over Zambia maize scam allegations 

Maravi Post correspondent

Mulumbe: fired

The Executive Board of ADMARC , through its special established committee on issues concerning the Zambia maize scam,on Wednesday disclosed that it has fired the ADMARC Executive Director Foster Mulumbe , and the Director of Operations, Feckson Kantonga, after finalizing its inquiry.

Headed by Ken Ndanga, the special committee said they found a lot of irregularities in the procurement procedures.

According to them, they also found that Mulumbe performed his duties in an unsatisfactory and inefficient manner, especially in the whole process of procuring maize from Zambia.

“Procurement procedures were not followed, hence the decision,” said Ndanga.

However, Ndanga denied to disclose the full report of their findings, while referring this reporter to the Board Chairperson, James Masumbu.

In his remarks, Masumbu admitted that the special committee resolved to fire Mulumbe, but ask for more time before he makes more comments on the matter.

He said the findings will be referred to the appointments and disciplinary committee that is mandated to present the full report.

Mulumbe denied to issue a comment on the matter, when contacted.

Meanwhile, the Malawi Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), said it is still investigating the ex-Minister of Agriculture, Dr. George Chaponda, who was fired  in March this year on the same issue.

 

Politics

Ahead of 2019 polls, Malawi political parties caution electoral body on NRB registration reliance

Maravi Post correspondent

BLANTYRE (Maravi Post)—The Malawi Electoral Commission has been told to tread carefully on its laissez fair approach in preparing for the 2019 general elections.

The Electoral Commission is the only legally recognized body to run elections in Malawi and it is mandated to discharge its duties independently.

However, during the meeting the Electoral Commission had with delegates from different political parties in the country,   the Chairperson Dr Jane Ansah told the parties that they will use register from National Registration Bureau (NRB) to use it as its own register.

“It is cost effective to use NRB as the process is the same,” said Ansah adding that if NRB delays in their operation, then we have alternative methods to come up with own registration.

But speaking in an interview, UDF spokesman Ken Ndanga cautioned the body to tread carefully to avoid being taken unawares with circumstances.

“The Electoral Commission has not been decisive as to whether they will use NRB data and we are only cautioning them to be decisive,” said Ndanga.

Some quarters are not confident with the composition of the Electoral Commission as most members are pro the ruling party. The Chairperson of the Commission is also regarded as a DPP stooge as she served as an Attorney General during the late Bingu administration