Mutharika to probe death of Muluzi's top aide

Blantyre, Malawi - Malawi President Bingu wa Mutharika has set up a
commission of inquiry into the death of Precious Kalonga Stambuli, the
former Chief Economic Advisor of former President Bakili Muluzi. Making
the announcement in the capital, Lilongwe, Wednesday, the Office of the
P resident and Cabinet said Mutharika had appointed top constitutional
lawyer Mode chair Msisha to head the five-member commission.



"The commission wants to establish circumstances that led to the death of Dr. Stambuli," read the brief report.

Stambuli,
who was also a business partner of Muluzi?s in his failed Trade
Investment Bank, died in mysterious circumstances during Christmas time
in 2003.

A postmortem by pathologist Dr. Charles Dzamalala indicated Stambuli died of poisoning and strangulation.

Just
before his death, Stambuli, who had dalliances with opposition
politics, had circulated a document which exposed the former
president's alleged corrupt tra n sactions.

Muluzi has, however, denied involvement in the death.

Blantyre - 27/08/2008

Pana