Former Finance Minister Friday Jumbe
Former Finance Minister Friday Jumbe on Monday appeared before the high court in Lilongwe in the attempted murder trial of the former budget director Paul Mphwiyo where he testified on the roles of a budget director in the Ministry of Finance.
In his testimony Jumbe told the court that the post of budget director is not independent as such the one holding this post works under the higher office of Secretary to the Treasury and the finance minister.
Jumbe who was finance minister between 2002 and 2004 said a budget director cannot make payments without the knowledge of Secretary to the Treasury and the Finance minister.
He however refused to comment on how Mr. Mphwiyo was discharging his duties as budget director when he was being cross examined by the state’s top prosecutor Mary Kachale.
He however admitted that treasury has most powerful posts in government.
Another witness former People’s Party Publicity Secretary Hophmally  Makande denied having pressurized and threatened Mphwiyo into making payments to fund the then ruling People’s Party campaign.
Tuesday: Dauka Manondo Testifies
Dauka Manondo brother to the second accused Pika Manondo testified in court on Tuesday in which he contradicted the former budget director Paul Mphwiyo saying his brother was Mphwiyo’s close friend.
Mr. Mphwiyo is on record to have told the court that he was not friends with Pika Manondo who is suspected to have been among those that attempted to take the life of the former on September 13th 2013, at the entrance of his Area 43 residence.
Dauka detailed how his brother Pika and Mphwiyo in August of 2013 travelled together to South Africa for an arms deal though he did not go into detail of the deal itself.
BJ Called to Also Testify
The high court has since summoned Mr. Bright Mpinganjira, former PP senior official to come and testify in court.
First accused Mcdonald Kumwembe named Jumbe and Makande as his witnesses. Presiding High Court Judge Michael Mtambo has adjourned the matter to January 12.
ACB’s Matemba Named as Witness
Meanwhile, Kumwembe has also named ACB Deputy Director Reyneck Matemba as his witness, a development which has shocked Mr. Matemba.
“I am surprised that Kumwembe has named me as his witness. I don’t personally know Mr. Kumbwembe but I will comply with whatever the court says,” responded Matemba when Zodiak Online sought his reaction to the turn of events on Monday.