Chief Justice approved illegally, says activist

Centre for Human Rights and Rehabilitation (CHRR) has said Malawi's newly appointed Chief Justice, Lovemore Munlo and Auditor General, Rexford Kampanje will face acceptability problems from Malawians following their confirmation in parliament which was sitting without a duly constituted quorum. 

The two were confirmed on Friday by 54 out of 55 legislators present in the House following the stay away of the opposition legislators. 

CHRR's Executive Director, Undule Mwakasungula said the two public officers were confirmed by a small group of parliamentarians who were not representing a larger Malawi population hence lacking mandate. 

"And to make matters even worse, they were confirmed by an assembly that was deemed illegal. How can Malawians accept these new appointments under these circumstances? They will find it hard unless something is done to correct the anomaly, “said Mwakasungula. 

He suggested that their confirmation could have been delayed until the sitting of the House constituted a quorum. 

"How can the whole Chief Justice be confirmed illegally. How do you expect then people to respect his office?" wondered Mwakasungula. 

The two public officers were expected to be confirmed during the last sitting of the House, which was prorogued by the President after the national budget had been passed. 

Meanwhile, opposition parties have described their confirmation as a joke and a mockery to democracy.