The erstwhile Vice President for the opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), Uladi Musa, has been discharged from prison where he was serving a five-year sentence since October 2020. His jail term was expected to end naturally in October 2025.
Mussa was tried in the High Court of Malawi together with former Regional Immigration Officer, David Kwanjana on charges relating to illegally awarding Malawian passports to foreigners.
Mussa and Kwanjana were charged with neglect of official duty contrary to Section 121 of the Penal Code and abuse of public office contrary to section 25B(1) of the Corrupt Practices Act.
During the time of committing the offence, Mussa was serving as a Minister of Homeland Security during the DPP reign where corruption was rife and evidence in court demonstrated that, using his Ministerial position and power, Mussa connived with the Immigration official to corruptly issue passports to two foreign nationals namely, Pascal Rwasa and Esili Kubwimana.
Presiding over the matter, the High Court judge, Chifundo Kachale, who is now doubling as the Malawi Electoral Commission chairperson, convicted both Mussa Kwanjana on October 2020 and their sentencing was issued a week later.
President Chakwera’s pardon for Mussa, which has occurred during the month of Ramadan, has been welcomed by the Muslim community where Mussa, a ‘devote’ Muslim himself, belongs.
