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| National |
| DFID to release homicide funds |
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by
Joseph Langa, 14 December 2004
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08:39:16
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Britain’s Department for International Development (DFID) has finally agreed to release funding for a backlog of homicide cases after freezing support because of financial management.
Lynette Keogh, an official from DFID, said in response to a questionnaire, the department stopped funding homicide cases because an audit report identified some deficiencies in the management of these funds.
Said Keogh: “As a result funding ceased while the recipients including the Judiciary, Police and Prison Service put in place arrangements that ensured these funds were managed according to the auditors’ requirements.”
But Keogh said Judiciary satisfied the auditors requirements as of on Monday and further funding will be released after a meeting that has been scheduled for Tuesday in Lilongwe.
“There will be a meeting tomorrow of all key players in the homicide backlog programme which should see the release of further funding to this programme,” Keogh said.
Registrar of the High Court and Supreme Court Sylvester Kalembera said in an interview that DFID queried and asked them to account for the money in the previous allocation, which they did.
He said the Judiciary also expected to know the position on the matter after Tuesday’s meeting where they are also expected to plan for next year’s programme.
Kalembera said if the funds are released trials for backlog homicide cases will start next month.
Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) Ishmael Wadi said recently that he has several murder cases which are ready for prosecution but he is failing to take them to court because the Judiciary has no money for homicide cases.
They include the a case involving UDF deputy director of research, Humphrey Mvula, former UDF MP Rodson Jangiya and others who are facing murder charges in connection with the death of Sheikh Abdul Hamid Bughdad in 2001.
The Judiciary is reported to have diverted K2 million ($18,518) from DFID meant for homicide cases.
Chief legal aid advocate Wezzie Kayira said recently that there are over 1,000 murder cases awaiting trial but they cannot be taken to court because there are no funds.
Last week 28 murder suspects were released by Centre for Legal Assistance (Cela) because government failed to take them to court some of them up to six years, which the organisation said, is denial to a fair trial and justice.
Wadi confirmed the figures and described the situation as an abuse of human rights which Malawi Human Rights Commission should take up.
He said the funding government provides for homicide cases is not adequate and the system mainly relies on money from DFID which is provided through the Malawi Access to Safety Security and Access to Justice (Massaj) programme.
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