IN a significant turn of events, a court in M
alawi has dismissed corruption charges against Vice President Saulos Klaus Chilima, removing a key obstacle to his potential bid in the forthcoming presidential election slated for next year.
Chilima, who was apprehended in 2022 on allegations of corruption, was accused by Malawi’s anti-corruption agency of accepting rewards for facilitating contracts for Xaviar Ltd and Malachitte FZE, companies linked to British businessman Zuneth Sattar.
Responding to these accusations, both Chilima and Sattar vehemently refuted any involvement in unlawful activities.
In a notice reported by Reuters, Judge Redson Kapindu disclosed that the decision to drop the charges was prompted by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) filing a motion for discontinuation of the case.
According to Kapindu’s ruling, the DPP is mandated to furnish the legal affairs committee of parliament with reasons for halting the proceedings within a stipulated 10-day period as per the country’s constitutional provisions.
Expressing relief over the court’s decision, Chilima’s legal counsel, Khumbo Soko, commented on the development. ‘As of now, we do not know the reasons for the discontinuance, suffice to say only parliament has the mandate to know,’ remarked Soko.
The dismissal of these charges clears the way for Vice President Chilima to potentially vie for the presidency in the upcoming electoral contest, marking a significant development in Malawi’s political landscape.
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