Judiciary support staff rebuff Law Society of Malawi on mediation ahead of courts shut down

Judiciary support staff have rebuffed officials from the Law Society of Malawi who had offered themselves to mediate ahead of a crippling strike from Friday.

Judiciary Support Staff Union spokesperson Andy Hariwa said the staff did not want the Law Society to mediate on the matter because it is an interested party.

“They came to us to hear the background to the strike with an aim of mediating the matter but we said no because they are an interested party, if the strike kicks off tomorrow, (Friday), they would be affected too,” he said.

He said the union gave the government a seven day ultimatum to give the judiciary support staff their house allowances or risk a justice crippling strike.

“We have not heard anything from the government since we gave them the ultimatum. The seven day ultimatum expires on Thursday so if we don’t hear anything, we will go ahead with the planned strike,” he said.

Judiciary spokesperson Mlenga Mvula said in an earlier interview the issue is now with Treasury.

Finance minister Goodall Gondwe could not be reached as he is reportedly in Washington, US.

Ex Malawi Young Pioneers operatives have also threatened protests after the government failed to pay them their K1 billion gratuity.

The government says it has no money.

The government has also failed to give K300 million to Malawi Electoral Commission in order to hold parliamentary and local government elections due to lack of money.

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