A former mayor and senior politician in the party of Malawi’s former president Bakili Muluzi was convicted on Monday for fraud and theft of public funds and sentenced to three years and two months in prison.
Magistrate David Kadwa told a packed courtroom in Blantyre that there was ”sufficient evidence” to convict John Chikakwiya, the ex-mayor of the commercial capital, Blantyre, who also served as governor for the south, for failing to account for about $4 000 (R25 000).
The former mayor had obtained the funds from a donor to rehabilitate a road in the city.
Chikakwiya is one of the top politicians linked to Muluzi to be convicted. He was arrested last year before Muluzi retired, and was charged with theft of public funds and fraud.
Several other former aides to Muluzi are awaiting trial, including Friday Jumbe and Humphrey Mvula.
Jumbe, the former finance minister, has formally been charged with four counts of graft and theft of more than $4-million (R25-million) and abuse of office.
Malawi’s new President, Bingu wa Mutharika, has launched an anti-corruption drive since he was controversially elected in May last year on a platform that called for fixing the economy, which has nosedived since international aid was suspended in 2002.
International donors have said that corruption in Malawi, one of the world’s poorest countries, is on the rise. — Sapa-AFP