Malawi: Former Minister convicted for granting citizenship to foreign nationals

By James Mwala

Malawi’s former Homeland Security Minister Uladi Basikolo Mussa has been convicted along with an immigration officer for granting citizenship to illegal immigrants from Burundi, Rwanda and other war prone nations when he was in office.

Mussa served on that role around 2012 and 2014 under the leadership of Malawi’s first ever female President Joyce Banda, when the offense was committed.

The case has been stalling ever since as Mussa served as Vice President for the Central for former ruling Democratic Progressive Party, which lost in June’s historical fresh presidential elections.

The courts had initially found Mussa and former Chief citizenship officer David Kwanjana and two others a case to answer related to the incidents.

Mussa however denied the charges saying they are political in nature. This comes as he is reportedly intending to contest as a presidential aspirant for the DPP at its convention as plans to replace Peter Mutharika continue.

However, today, Justice Chifundo Kachale said the court found Mussa guilty of abuse of office and subsequently convicted him together with Kwanjana.

Kachale however reserved his ruling to 22 October and ordered the two to head to prison ahead of sentencing.