Finally, Sattar to be Formally Charged in Britain; No more Lies in Malawi

UK’s National Crime Agency that arrested Malawi-born businessperson Zuneth Sattar over bribery allegations is finally going to charge him in UK.

A good number of senior government officials including in the army, media fraternity and Members of Parliament are believed to be implicated in this case. In Malawi this case has stalled for a long time with allegations that the case was dropped due to political interferences by some government officials who are believed to be implicated in the K150 billion bribery scandal.

Sattar is scheduled to appear before the Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Friday, May 30, 2025, to face an eruptive list of about 18 counts in Courtroom 08, under the jurisdiction of the Central London Magistrates’ Court, under the UK’s Bribery Act. He was involved in allegation of bribing senior Malawian government officials to secure lucrative contracts.

President Lazarus Chakwera once publicly released a report to the nation citing over 80 officials implicated in this bribery case with few being mentioned by names.

Some of the notable names mentioned in this case are the late Vice President, the late Saulos Klaus Chilima; former Malawi Defence Force, Counsel Brigadier General Dan Kuwali; State House Chief of Staff, Prince Kapondamgaga; former Inspector General of Police, George Kainja; former Solicitor General former Inspector General of Police, Anti-Corruption Bureau Director General, Reyneck Matemba; members of the judiary, Media practitioners —among others.

Only Kuwali, a serving senior officer in the Malawi Defence Force (MDF) has not been charged while the rest have. Sattar is being prosecuted under sections 6 and 11 of the UK Bribery Act 2010 according to the Standard Court List for Westminster Magistrates’ Court, which outlaws the bribery of foreign public officials.

Each charge carries a maximum penalty of 12 months’ imprisonment and/or an unlimited fine while some are chargeable only, rendering the person who commits it liable to be charged with a serious crime that warrants a trial by jury and if he is found guilty, Sattars property will be seized by authorities in UK.

In Malawi government has been noncommittal in proceeding with the case to the extent of arresting former Director General of Anti Corruption Bureau, Martha Chizuma in an attempt to cover up the case.

It is believed that Malawians will now know the truth as tapes of conversations involving suspected government officials will be played in court, letters read including some of the evidences that will be presented made public.

This publication will be giving you updates of the case in our subsequent news.

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