The First Grade Magistrate Court in Lilongwe has convicted and sentenced Pastor Moses Shumba, 55, to 10 months imprisonment with hard labour, but suspended it to 18 months for spreading offensive voice notes about the tragic deaths of Dr. Saulosi Chilima and eight others on 10 June 2024.
State Prosecutor, Superintendent Isaac Kadawayula from National Police Headquarters told the court that on 10 August 2024 Pastor Shumba recorded voice notes (VNs) and shared them on a WhatsApp forum called ‘Rise and Shine Malawi’ that he himself created.
According to Kadawayula, in the voice notes, the convict made a lot of statements which, among others, alleged that the plane crash that resulted into the tragic deaths of the former Vice President of the Republic, late Dr. Saulos Chilima, and eight others, was man made.
On the first day of court appearance, Pastor Shumba pleaded not guilty to the charge of Offensive Communication which contravenes Section 87 of Cyber and Security Act, but on 28 October 2024, he changed and pleaded guilty.
In mitigation, the convict asked for leniency saying he is a first-time offender and that he regretted his actions.
But in its submission, the state asked for a stiff sentence saying the convict’s behaviour had the potential to incite violence in the country considering that people believe what religious leaders say, noting that the behaviour should therefore, be discouraged.
Passing his sentence, First Grade Magistrate Amran Phiri concurred with the State and condemned the behaviour. He then went on to sentence the convict to 10 months imprisonment, but suspended to one and half years.
Pastor Shumba hails from Mkuli Village, Traditional Msamala in Balaka District.
