The 16 officials from the Department of Disaster Management Affairs (Dodma) that were arrested recently for allegedly misusing part of the K6.2 billion meant for Covid, have been denied bail.

The Lilongwe Magistrate Court, under Chief Resident Magistrate Patrick Chirwa, said there was a need to give the State time to investigate the issue, hence no bail for at least the next 7 days. “The State has managed to satisfy this court that there was not enough time to do investigations. I grant seven days to push their investigations,” said Chirwa in his ruling.

Following a call for the probe by President Lazarus Chakwera, the officials are answering charges of abuse of office and theft by public servants. For instance, Dodma Deputy Director Fyabupi Mwafongo, has been charged with abuse of office for allegedly authorising payment of subsistence allowances and lunch allowances totalling K4,628 000.