Former chief secretary to the government and cabinet, Lloyd Muhara has today been formally charged with two counts of misuse of office and neglect of official duties. The charges relate to his role in allegedly approving the lease of land belonging to the Forestry department to former Minister of Irrigation and Water Development Charles Mchacha in June 2019 in the absence of material documents.

Muhara who is also a judge of the High Court of Malawi did not take a plea as ACB is expected to re-submit an application for consent to the office of Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) following the replacement of former DPP Mary Kachale with Steven Kayuni.

Principal resident magistrate Viva Nyimba who presided over the hearing approved the state application for consolidation of the case with that of other suspects namely Charles Mchacha, Vuwa Kaunda and Bright Kumwembe.

Meanwhile, the court has granted Muhara a bail bond of K500,000 cash.

Other conditions of the bail include K500,000 surety non-cash, reporting to ACB on Friday every fortnight, surrender traveling documents to ACB and not letting his agents or sympathisers interfere with ACB officials and state witnesses.

The hearing of the case has been adjourned to January 6, 2021