Lawyer for Norman Chisale on Tuesday put Minister of Justice Titus Mvalo on the spot regarding the merit of pursuing his client’s intimidation case, given that it carries a fine or six months’ imprisonment.
Mvalo was testifying in a case in which Chisale is also answering charges of using insulting language and obstruction of justice.
“As minister, do you think this case, which attracts a fine and six months imprisonment is worth pursuing? Haven’t you ever been insulted?” asked one of his lawyers, Stanley Chirwa.
In response, Mvalo said as a father and a person with relatives, being insulted on television was not only demeaning but also disrespectful to him.
He told the court that he was shocked when Chisale called him a liar when the minister claimed that he did not see a letter that the accused said he hand-delivered through the minister’s secretary.
Mvalo said as a minister of justice, he had no power over the letter that Chisale wrote.
“There is nothing like a minister getting involved in any criminal or civil case. My ministry has two offices that deal with criminal cases which area the Attorney General and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP),” he said
The Principal Resident Magistrate Rodrcick Michongwe adjourned the case to a later date when the State is expected to parade two witnesses.
In an exclusive interview with Leah Malekano of Zodiak Broadcasting Station (ZBS) in November last year, Chisale blamed Mvalo and former Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Steve Kayuni for his suffering due to the preservation order and the freezing of his bank accounts.
“I am suffering, my family and children are suffering because of Kayuni. When I was on remand, I wrote his office asking for K5 million for my child’s school fees, but he refused. I will never forgive Kayuni. God should deal with him,” a visibly angry Chisale told host, Leah Malekano in an interview that was laced with profane words
He further claimed that Kayuni had tried to apologize to him through a Malawi Congress Party (MCP) official.
Chisale vowed that those who are behind his torture will pay one day. He did not elaborate.
