CSOs support lawyers for more Judges at Mzuzu High Court

Mzuzu Civil Society Network (MCISON) has backed a long held demand by lawyers and the populace in the northern region  in imploring the government to send at least two more Judges at the Mzuzu High Court  registry, saying government’s inactiveness on the issue was a grossly violation of human rights.mZUZU HIGH COURT

Network members (L-R) Charles Kajoloweka (YAS), Felix Manda (CCJP) and Muteyu Banda (YWS)
Network members (L-R) Charles Kajoloweka (YAS), Felix Manda (CCJP) and Muteyu Banda (YWS)

MCISON, which is a network of over 40 institutions drawn from Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), Community Based Organisations (CBOs), and Faith Based Organisations (FBOs) operating in and around Mzuzu City and Mzimba north, has given government up to March 2016 to act.

No specific action was revealed by MCISON that it will take should government close its ears except that MCISON officials during a press conference at Mzuzu hotel on Thursday vehemently reminded government of its obligations both under national and international conventions and treaties regarding human Rights.

Ironically, a 21 day demand by Lawyers from the northern region to Chief Justice issued in April 2015, passed silently with little or no response from the CJ’s office.

“We learn with deep shock that Mzuzu High court has only one resident Judge, a situation that continues to compromise delivery of justice. Surprisingly, all the High Courts in Malawi, except Mzuzu High Court, have more than one Resident Judge. For instance, Zomba High Court has 2 Resident Judges, Blantyre High court has 10 resident judges and Lilongwe High Court has 7 resident judges,” the group said in a statement.

Last year Malawi Law Society Mzuzu Chapter President Victor Gondwe said the presence of one judge is a serious issue to justice delivery.

“ Whenever the same and only Judge is outside the Northern region but a need for an urgent relief arises, say an interlocutory injunction, the whole northern region is handicapped and incapable of obtaining the said relief for the duration the judge is away hence defeating the very objective of ensuring access to justice,” Gondwe said.

Similarly,MCISON noted that due to an enormous workload for the resident Judge at Mzuzu High Court, there is high probability that avoidable errors could occur in the course of making judgment such that when an appeal is sought the Supreme Court could reverse the earlier ruling.

“This does not mean that Resident Judge  [Dingiswayo Madise] is incompetent…but the pressure of work would contribute to the arising of such errors. When such error occur the reputation of the Judge and the court becomes questionable,” they said.

Some members of the Mzuzu Civil Society Network include:Youth and Society (YAS), CCJP –Mzuzu,Malawi Law Society (MLS) – Mzuzu Chapter, Youth Watch Society, Women Forum Northern Region, ADRA –Mzuzu, Centre for Legal Assistance (CLELA), Initiative for Policy Research on Social Economic Empowerment (IPSE) and Mzuzu Youth Association (MYA).

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Mkwatu Wa Pa Nkhata
Mkwatu Wa Pa Nkhata
8 years ago

That’s good news. Let the CJ act on that. For those who do not know, Mzuzu has more than 10 practising lawyers. There’s indeed a requirement for at least two Judges. The present Judge there is an honourable man and does the donkey work exqusitely. However, he needs a brother/sister Judge. Having said that, take a look at the Mzuzu Court House. See the cracks. That building will surely collapse if it is not well taken care of. You wonder where ORT goes. Kodi olo paint simngapenteko building imene ija? It seems people are satisfied with the way the building… Read more »

kalizwazwa
kalizwazwa
8 years ago

Fuck de malawi government

joyo nyirenda
joyo nyirenda
8 years ago

Former Chief justice Richard Banda thought he was doing a favour to his home region by building a massive Court complex in Mzuzu before Lilongwe. He even forgot the basics that Human Resource was required.
The better part of the complex is idle while Lilongwe does not even have space with so many Judges and lawyers around and even more litigation.
Swallow your pride and accept the status quo.
Current Chief Justice, please build a complex in Lilongwe before your sort out the Mzuzu issue.

Mapwevupwevu
Mapwevupwevu
8 years ago

Why should there be more judges in Mzuzu when there is only practicing lawyer in the city by the name of George Kadzipatike?

KJ
KJ
8 years ago

BRAVO Mzuzu CSOs ! This is a genuine concern and government must act now. Why should Mzuzu High Court have one resident Judge covering the whole region and Blantyre have 10 ? It sulks

master
master
8 years ago

its sad even just sending a judge, people have to beg? why did u the build a court in mzuzu?

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