Former principal human resources officer at the Department of Immigration and Citizenship Services Daston Tasauka Manda, who is a State witness in the case of irregular recruitment of immigration assistants at the Department, on Thursday told the court that former minister of Homeland Security Cecelia Chazama threatened to deal with him after only six people from the list of 18 she submitted to be considered for the job were recruited.

Manda said soon after a list of successful candidates was released, he first received a call from then Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Homeland Security Sam Madula to explain why only six out 18 from Chazama’s list had been picked.

He said: “Few minutes later, I received a call from honourable Chazama threatening me that she would deal with me because I was her junior. Two days later I was transferred from the department to Ministry of Education.”

Manda has been testifying as a state witness before the court in which Chazama, former Immigration Department boss Masauko Medi and four other public officers are answering abuse of office charges.

Manda yesterday mentioned names of former State House officials and Cabinet Ministers who submitted names of those to be considered for the post when the department was recruiting 127 Immigration Assistants in 2017.

Chief Resident Magistrate Chisomo Msokera has since adjourned the case to September 26.