The case involving Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) Director General Martha Chizuma, who is accused of making defamatory remarks in a leaked audio conversation, has been adjourned by the Chief Resident Magistrate’s court.
The Chief Resident Magistrate, Madalitso Chimwaza, has ordered that Chizuma’s plea taking will be done on February 8th.
Earlier today, Chizuma’s lawyer Martha Kaukonde said her client could not make it to the court as she is in Blantyre attending other court cases.
The case has garnered significant attention due to Chizuma’s position as the head of the Anti-Corruption Bureau, an organization tasked with fighting corruption in the country.
The alleged defamatory remarks were made in a leaked audio conversation, which has not been made public.
The court’s decision to adjourn the case comes amid ongoing investigations by the Malawi Human Rights Commission (MHRC) into Chizuma’s arrest and subsequent events, following a complaint lodged by Chizuma that her rights were violated during her arrest.
The MHRC has also received complaints from other stakeholders urging the commission to conduct an independent investigation into the matter.
As the case proceeds, many will be watching closely to see how the court handles the accusations against Chizuma, and how it will impact the ongoing investigations into her arrest.