Magistrate Nyimba calls for law review to reflect internet era: AG hails proposal

One of the country’s Senior Resident Magistrates, Viva Nyimba has bemoaned the country’s failure to upgrade some of its laws to be at par with modern era of internet and has since urged authorities to reconsider the shortfalls.

Nyimba raised his concerns during extortion case between People’s Party (PP) deputy administrative secretary, Joseph Chikwemba and Malawi Voice editor, Justice Mponda after some of documents tendered in court were rejected.

The documents contained call-list sourced from mobile service providers as well information from social media, especially the Facebook, and were dismissed as being contradictory to provisions under Criminal Procedures and Evidence Code.

The lack of provisions to accommodate information sourced from modern technology such as social media disappointed Nyimba who suggested a need for the country’s law-makers to review some of the regulations.

Nyimba said: “In European countries this is a thing of the past. They have accepted and adopted laws that are in line with modern technology. It’s high time that our Parliament should incorporate modern technology into our laws”.

In an interview, Attorney General (AG), Anthony Kamanga welcomed Nyimba’s idea and promised his office would consider the proposal if made official.

“It’s a welcome idea, and I agree with him on the need to review some of our laws to be at par with modern times. My office will, together with other stakeholders like Malawi Law Commission, consider such proposal; but all what is needed now is for someone to officially file the petition,” explained Kamanga.

.Meanwhile, Magistrate Nyimba has set February 18 as a date the court will deliver its verdict on the matter which Malawi Voice Editor Justice Mponda is being accused of intimidating the royal family and extortion, ordering both parties to serve the courts with their written submission by February 14.

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