The High Court in Lilongwe has pushed to Wednesday, 24 December, the hearing of a bail application by Malawi Congress Party (MCP) Secretary General Richard Chimwendo Banda after the State failed to present its response.
The court was expected to hear Chimwendo Banda’s application for bail pending trial in a case in which he is accused of attempting to murder Frank Chawanda in Dowa District.
However, the matter failed to proceed after the State made a preliminary application for an adjournment, saying it needed more time to file written responses to the bail application.
High court judge Mzonde Mvula granted the adjournment and ordered the State to submit its response by Monday next week, noting that the prosecution had failed to present a certificate indicating that the matter was of extreme urgency.
Meanwhile, Chimwendo Banda’s lawyer, George Kadzipatike, told the court that the delay is negatively affecting his client’s psychological well-being, adding that he is currently receiving medical treatment in hospital.
Speaking to MIJ Online, Kadzipatike said the defence will comply with the court’s decision.