The state has hired the services of private practice lawyer Clement Mwala as lead prosecutor in former president Bakili Muluzi and Lyness Whiskey’s K1.7 billion corruption case.

Mwala replaces Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) Deputy Director Reyneck Matemba who recused himself from the case citing personal reasons last month.

ACB Senior Public Relations Officer Egrita Ndala confirmed of the development in an interview with the press.

Meanwhile Muluzi’s case resumed today at the High Court in the commercial capital Blantyre.

After the recusal of Matemba, Muluzi through his lawyer applied to court to have his case discharged, saying it’s senseless to continue with the case without prosecutor.

But the State objected to appeal and the court gave the State a month to identify Matemba’s replacement and continue with the case.