The resumption of the fuel saga case faced a fresh hitch, as it was postponed again on Tuesday.
Former National Oil Company of Malawi (Nocma) Deputy Chief Executive Hellen Buluma, who was recalled by the Court, was supposed to continue with her testimony against former Energy minister Newton Kambala, Alliance for Democracy president Enoch Chihana and former chief Presidential Adviser on Strategy Chris Chaima Banda.
Since February last year, Buluma has been failing to continue her testimony, citing sickness as the main reason
Defence lawyer George Mtchuka Mwale told the media that they received a communication that High Court Judge Patrick Chirwa, who is sitting as chief resident magistrate in the case, failed to turn up because he is tied up with other meetings.
Buluma’s testimony was supposed to run from January 17th to 20th 2023 in the case.
Buluma is the key witness in the case in which former minister of Energy Newton Kambala and two others are accused of attempting to influence a public officer in the procurement of fuel contrary to the Corrupt Practices Act.
Before Buluma, the State paraded Charles Mphinga, an official from the Public Procurement and Disposal of Assets Authority.
ACB arrested Kambala, Chihana and Chaima Banda in August last year for allegedly attempting to influence Buluma to award contracts to Orxy, Finergy and Trafigura.
The three were granted bail two days later.
On the day they were granted court bail, President Lazarus Chakwera fired Kambala and Chaima Banda as Energy minister and chief Adviser on Strategy, respectively
