By Mercy Matonga :

The first witness in the certificate case involving opposition Democratic Progressive Party vice president for the Central Region, Alfred Gangata, started giving testimony in Lilongwe Tuesday.

State prosecutor Levi Mangani paraded the first witness, namely Andrew Phambala, who told the court that he entered into an agreement with Gangata to take examinations on his behalf in 2017.

He said he sat the examinations at Chitowo Community Day Secondary School in Dedza District.

“The identity card that I used had both Gangata’s name and face. We were in a deal that I sit examinations for him and that, in return, he would give me a house, K4 million and a motor vehicle,” said Phambala, who claimed that he never got the items.

He further told the court that he had been going to Gangata’s house in Area 9, Lilongwe, where he met with Gangata on several occasions and that the two have also been interacting on the phone.

Mangani further produced a document for the witness to recognise.

However, the defence, through Khwima Mchidzi, objected, saying they were not aware of the document which was supposed to be given to them prior to the hearing.

Lilongwe Chief Resident Magistrate Austin Banda ruled in favour of the defendants, ordering that the document be set aside or that he adjourns the case.

Mangani continued examining the witness.

However, the defence side said they could not cross-examine the witness as some of their lawyers were not available in court Tuesday.

The case was later adjourned.

Mchizi told The Daily Times that it was unfortunate that the State could not surrender all the documents.

He further claimed that the prosecution wanted to surprise the defence with evidence it [the defence] was not aware of.

“We will wait for the state if they have more documents to share them in time that the case can continue because they know that all documents must be shared in time,” Mchizi said.

On his part, Mangani said the State was “fully prepared” to prosecute the case.

“We are fully prepared and, by February [this year], we gathered all the necessary documents,” Mangani said.