Malawi paper’s editorial condemns govt, judiciary collapse of talks
Malawi’s flagship daily, The Nation, has described the collapse of talks between the Executive arm of government and the Judiciary as “disappointing” and that one of the parties is not negotiating in good faith.
As earlier reported by Nyasa Times , the Judges and magistrates on Monday rejected a 22 percent salary increment offer and pulled out of negotiations with government, raising fears of crisis in the judiciary.
The development also comes barely a month after the end of seven-week judiciary support staff strike that paralyzed the operations of the judiciary between November and December last year.
The Judiciary is demanding 110 percent increment for Supreme Court Judges, 78 percent for High Court Judges and registrars, among other categories.
Government is said to have told them that it does not have money, hence a 22 percent increment offer.
Meanwhile, judges and magistrates from across the country have agreed to take the matter to Parliament, and if nothing happens, sue individual government officers who were involved in the negotiations, according to judiciary spokesperson, Mlenga Mvula.
The collapses of talks comes at a time when there has been some positive outcomes from negotiations surrounding public sector strikes that gave hope that the labour disputes situation was stabilizing, according to the paper.
“So, when talks with other institutions were concluded fairly successfully, why have they failed with the Judiciary who have since rejected a 22 percent salary hike offer, unilaterally suspended talks, threatened to take the matter to Parliament and sue one by one individuals they deem problematic to the execution of their demands?,” says the paper in its editorial comment.
The paper, which won 2014 Misa-Malawi Print Media House of Year Award, also observed that one of the parties could not be negotiating in good faith and “does not appear to cede a consequential part of their bargaining position”.
“As a result, the talks have not gone anywhere,” it adds.
However, it commended the Judiciary’s approach that will “directly target those they are negotiating with” while seeking Parliament’s intervention.
“This fairly reasonable approach notwithstanding, it is also in the interest of the nation that there exists no animosity between the two important branches of government-certainly not at a time they should work closely as a team to deliver better services to Malawians, including the reforms agenda.
“We cannot begin to imagine what kind of a country this would be without the rule of law. For example, can we attract investment in a country where there is no guarantee that contracts will be enforced?
“How then do we expect to achieve higher economic growth rates and more revenue (currently being under-collected) if we cannot create the right environment for businesses to operate without misgivings and contribute to the tax kitty enough money to afford the higher perks we are seeking?
“We, therefore, urge a quick resolution to the package bickering,” says the paper.
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These fools do not deserve all that money.
The judges and magistrates across the country have agreed to take the matter to Parliament, if nothing is done, then they will sue individual government officers involved in the negotiation. Where will they sue these individuals? To another interested party in the salary increase? It will be unfair trial Mr. Mlenga Mvula. You know the outcome already! Judges as well qualified individuals in the land need to know and understand the situation the country. You need to deal with the cases urgently of those involved in looting and theft of public resources to recover the lost monies and send a strong signal to those intending or planning to do this regardless of their political muscles…..
This government is so funny you denying some certain percentage demanded by the people in their specific occupations and yet you demand a hefty percentage on services you offer as a government such as is the case with our recent passport hikes which is so obsceniois because no one demands such an increase from K15 100 to K48 500 this is executive theft on its best so don’t complain if citizens demand a such because you have taught them how to.
Are some of these demands realistic? I doubt, there might be some elements of sabotage.
is it really neccesary for grown people to wear those silly costumes?
Wanting 110% payrise and yet you are still wearing old colonial uniform and using colonial laws. Convince us that you deserve the 110% payrise by modernizing your systems to be in tune with current Malawi. Otherwise odi uko, musatipingepinge
Si zomwe Peters government has done? Peter anaonesa kuti Malawi si dziko losauka lija ayi!!!!! Nawonso apatseni zomwe akufuna!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
In Animal Farm. Zikuoneka kuti NOT All Animals are equal. Zoona 110% pay rise? “Judgegate”!
ABOMA NDI MA JUGDE SIAJA MUNABESA VOTE NDEKUTI MUKUDZIWANA FOTSEKI APaaaa ! !!
Amuna ovala madress bwanji? Utengeka ndi azungu
I heard a rumour that some ARV clinic clerks has a list of these pompous people who always ask for money when government has nothing to pay for drugs in the hospitals. I am looking forward to that list!!!!!!
AAA KODI ZIKUKHALA BWANJI? ANOTHER STRIKE?
Ngati ma MP and ministers anazionjezera okha ma precentage akulu anthu oti ambili ndi mbuli zeni*2 ndi ma judges sakulakwitsa amagwira ntchito yambili than mp or nduna and zikanakhala bola boma likuwapatsa 50 precent
Tiyenazoni…this is total war between Judiciary full of aT umbuka and the Lomwe government,its an element of sabotage influenced by the civil societies…NKHANGA ZAWONA!!
ASAAAAAAA…THIS IS RIDICULOUS, SELFISH AND UTTER STUPID! THE JUDICIARY SUPPORT STAFF WERE SHORT CHANGED AND ACCEPTED THE CIVIL SERVICE PERCENTAGES…HOW THEN CAN THESE PEOPLE DEMAND 110%? THESE ARE THE SAME PEOPLE WHO ARE SPENDING TIME IN PUBS INSTEAD OF WRITING JUDGEMENTS. VERY SELFISH INDEED. GOVT MUST NOT BOW DOWN. I TOTALLY AGREE WITH THOSE WHO SAY DOCTORS DESERVE BETTER!
Btween the two, who does not want to accept a mutual settlement? Koma pena we have to condemn amanyuzinu for not condemning the 110% demand as being unreasonale the way u did when civil servants demanded a 55% pay hike instead of the 25% offer by gvt. Muopa chani, mwabisa chilungamo when u were to speak out chifukwa demand ya 110% shows selfishness kuti boma liwoneke failure. waaaa
Government should give each civil servant 250% just as they raise the fees for pass port, motor vehicle fees pls
Apatseni zawo akugwira ntchito yambiri. We need more refunds especially from Paul Mphwiyo, Lutepo, Kasambara, Joyce Banda, Richard Banda,