Ralph Kasambara

Kasambara was born in Nkhata Bay on 26 September 1969.{{Cite web|url=http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2017537942_apafmalawipolitics.html|title=Nation & World | Malawi presidential critic hospitalized | Seattle Times Newspaper}}

Kasambara was a law teacher at Chancellor College, University of Malawi.{{cn|date=July 2023|reason=previous citation was a dead link to an unarchived page from a usurped domain; a basic web search failed to verify, turning up only content based on this article}} He served as President and Chairman of the Malawi Law Society from 2003 to 2004.{{Cite web|url=https://www.amnesty.org/en/for-media/press-releases/malawi-former-attorney-general-returned-prison-despite-bail-order-2012-02-1|work=Amnesty International |title=Malawi: Former Attorney General returned to prison despite bail order}} He was an Attorney General under Bingu wa Mutharika's first administration. He later became the lawyer for Joyce Banda who was being sidelined by the Mutharika administration. He was also the lawyer of Zambian President Michael Sata.{{cite web|url=http://globalvoicesonline.org/2012/06/01/zambia-donates-five-million-litres-of-fuel-to-malawi/|title=Zambia Donates Five Million Litres of Fuel to Malawi|work=Global Voices|date=June 2012}}

On 26 April 2012, President Joyce Banda appointed Kasambara as Minister of Justice and Attorney General. On 10 October, a few days after returning from a trip to the UN, Banda sacked her cabinet and replaced Kasambara with Fahad Assani in the new cabinet, which was announced on 15 October 2013.{{cite web|url=http://timesmediamw.com/malawis-newly-appointed-justice-minister-talks-tough-on-looting/|title=Malawi's newly appointed Justice Minister talks tough on looting|work=BNL Times}}

Kasambara became a vocal critic of President Mutharika's administration, advocating for his impeachment and commenting that he "wants to be a dictator". Kasambara was arrested on 14 February 2012 after a group of would-be arsonists went to his offices with petrol bombs and were subdued by him and his supporters. When they called the police, the police arrested him and five others on charges of 'kidnapping' and 'torturing' the three men. He was taken to jail, released on bail, and re-arrested for a 'fraudulent bail process'.{{Cite news|url=http://www.afriquejet.com/en/international-news/987-two-top-govt-officials-arrested-over-massive-government-looting.html|access-date=21 January 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140728192426/www.afriquejet.com/en/international-news/987-two-top-govt-officials-arrested-over-massive-government-looting.html| url-status= usurped| date= 28 January 2014 | archive-date= 28 July 2014 | title=Two top govt. officials arrested over massive government looting | work = AfriqueJet Actualités}}{{cite web |url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/africa/malawi-presidential-critic-said-to-have-heart-ailment-hospitalized-under-police-guard/2012/02/18/gIQAfhQALR_story.html |title=Malawi presidential critic said to have heart ailment, hospitalized under police guard - the Washington Post |website=www.washingtonpost.com |access-date=14 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120219163312/http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/africa/malawi-presidential-critic-said-to-have-heart-ailment-hospitalized-under-police-guard/2012/02/18/gIQAfhQALR_story.html |archive-date=19 February 2012 |url-status=dead}}

On 8 November 2013, Kasambara was arrested on suspicion of involvement in the September shooting of whistleblower Paul Mphwiyo[https://news.yahoo.com/malawi-arrests-ex-justice-minister-over-murder-attempt-100440129.html Malawi arrests ex-justice minister over murder attempt], by Felix Mponda; at Agence France-Presse/Yahoo! News; published 8 November 2013; retrieved 13 November 2013 following the Capital Hill Cashgate Scandal. He was subsequently denied bail,{{cite web |url=http://www.nyasatimes.com/2013/11/21/bail-denied-for-kasambara-to-stay-another-30-days-in-prison/ |title=Bail denied for kasambara: To stay another 30 days in prison |publisher=Nyasa Times |date=21 November 2013 |access-date=30 December 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131230231848/http://www.nyasatimes.com/2013/11/21/bail-denied-for-kasambara-to-stay-another-30-days-in-prison/ |archive-date=30 December 2013}} but later released on bail.{{cite web |url=http://www.malawitoday.com/news/130408-ralph-kasambara-out-bail |title=Ralph Kasambara out on bail |publisher=Malawi Today |date=10 December 2013 |access-date=30 December 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131217022208/http://www.malawitoday.com/news/130408-ralph-kasambara-out-bail |archive-date=17 December 2013}} He was rearrested on money laundering charges on 27 January 2014.{{cite news|last=Chikoko |first=Rex |url=http://www.nation.co.ke/news/africa/Ralph-Kasambara-Arrest-Malawi-Politics/-/1066/2162144/-/n9bkhi/-/ |title=Former Malawi Justice Minister Ralph Kasambara re-arrested - Africa |work=Daily Nation |date=10 October 2013 |access-date=30 January 2014}}

On 21 July 2016, he was convicted by the High Court for conspiring to murder Paul Mphwiyo. On 30 August 2016, he was given a 13-year jail term for conspiracy to murder a civil servant, in a crime believed to be linked to a multi-million dollar corruption ring.{{cite news|title=Malawi ex-minister Kasambara jailed for conspiracy to murder|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-37225929|access-date=30 August 2016|publisher=BBC|date=30 August 2016}}

Kasambara was found dead at a lodge in the Lilongwe suburb of Area 47 in Malawi, on the evening of 7 June 2024. He was 54.{{Cite web|url=https://malawi24.com/2024/06/08/former-attorney-general-ralph-kasambara-dead/|title=Former Attorney General Ralph Kasambara dead|work=Malawi 24|date=8 June 2024 |access-date=8 June 2024}} Preliminary results of an autopsy showed that he had died due to heart failure.{{Cite web|url=https://www.247malawi.com/preliminary-autopsy-results-indicate-heart-failure-as-cause-of-kasambaras-death/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=preliminary-autopsy-results-indicate-heart-failure-as-cause-of-kasambaras-death=247Malawi|access-date=9 June 2024 |title=Preliminary autopsy results indicate heart failure as cause of Kasambara's death |date=8 June 2024 }} The police report noted that "different types of drugs and alcohol" were found in the same room where his body was discovered.{{cite news|url=https://www.malawivoice.com/2024/06/08/kasambara-was-found-with-several-types-of-drugsbeer-in-his-room-at-damron-lodge-police-report/|title=Kasambara was found with several types of drugs,beer in his room at Damron Lodge – Police report|work=Malawi Voice|date=8 June 2024}} His funeral was held on 10 June 2024 in the Northern Region, during which an aircraft carrying Vice President Saulos Chilima and nine others crashed on their way to attend the ceremony, killing everyone on board.{{Cite web |title=Saulos Chilima: Malawi VP's plane found with no survivors, president says |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c722vpp1ndro |access-date=2024-06-11 |website=BBC |language=en-GB}}

• "Civic Education in Malawi Since 1992: An Appraisal", in Kings M. Phiri and Kenneth R. Ross, Democratisation in Malawi: A Stocktaking (book), Kacehere Publishing – 1998{{Cite web|title=May I introduce to you: Ralph Kasambara |url=http://www.sdnp.org.mw/ruleoflaw/lawfaculty/ralph_index.html|access-date=21 January 2023|website=Faculty of Law, Chancellor College | place= University of Malawi}}
• The Legal Regime for Foreign Direct Investment in Malawi (article), UNIMA Students Law Journal – 2000

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Category:1969 births

Category:2024 deaths

Category:20th-century Malawian lawyers

Category:21st-century Malawian lawyers

Category:Malawian human rights activists

Category:Government ministers of Malawi

Category:Justice ministers of Malawi

Category:Academic staff of the University of Malawi

Category:Attorneys-general of Malawi

Category:People from the Northern Region, Malawi