7 judges panel reconstituted in Malawi election case appeal: Chikopa in, Mwaungulu not available
The Judiciary has reconstituted the panel of seven judges panel at the Supreme Court of Appeal to hear the high profile presidential election case from today April 15 following a challenge on the Constitutional Court ruling by President Peter Mutharika and Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC).
The new inclusion in Justice Lovemore Chikopa to join the bench led by Chief Justice Andrew Nyirenda.
Justice Chikopa is replacing Justice Dunstain Mwaungulu who is not present.
The panel includes other judges; Justice Edward Twea, Justice Anaclet Chipeta, Justice Anthony Kamanga, Justice Frank Kapanda and Justice Renzine Mzikamanda.
The hearing will take place for two days in Lilongwe.
In it’s communication, the Judiciary said the appeal hearing will he held in compliance with restriction measures of the coronavirus such as physical distancing, thereby restricting the number of lawyers to represent parties in the case.
Both respondents and appellants will be represented by a maximum of two lawyers each.
Lawyers Frank Mbeta and Samuel Tembenu will represent President Mutharika while private practice lawyer Tamando Chokhotho – who has been into the matter since its inception – will represent Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC).
For the respondents, Dr Chikosa Silungwe and Marshall Chilenga will represent UTM Party leader Saulos Chilima while Mordecai Msiska and Pempho Likongwe will represent Malawi Congress Party (MCP) presidential hopeful Lazarus Chakwera.
The courtroom will also allow at least three people from each party.
The number of court users has also be minimized.
President Mutharika and MEC have filed several grounds against the Constitutional Court ruling which annulled the May 21 presidential election and ordered a fresh election.
The Constitutional Court cited irregularities and anomalies which were so widespread, systematic and grave that the outcome of the results had been seriously compromised.
The election last May returned the sitting president to power, leading to deadly confrontations and widespread unrest.
The MEC had declared Mutharika the narrow winner of the May election with 38 percent of votes, followed by Lazarus Chakwera with 35 percent and former Vice President Saulos Chilima third with 20 percent.
Mutharika had denounced the ruling as “a serious subversion of justice, an attack on our democratic systems and an attempt to undermine the will of the people”.
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Chikopa is a corrupt judge. The Chief Justice has definitely erred in appointing him to the ConCourt. What about the bribes he accepted from Mpingagira? Now the case has gone dead. Malawi!!! Why so low governance and accountability.
Indeed Chikopa is now positioned to accept and distribute bribes once again to the other Judges on the Court’s bench. Why this development to impugn and place into question the impartiality of the Court everyone was praising? What is going on? First we see the case against Tom Mpingagira disappear and now we see the Judge who was the one whom Mpingagira is alleged to have bribed is on panel of Judges hearing matters related to that very bribe. Malawians are we really serious and mature as a nation or are we a mediocre clueless people a nation with corruption… Read more »
How can you bring in a compromised judge? We all know he would like to see DPP to stay in power to protect his case. Only in malawi!! He is supposed to be in jail not in the court.
Please no nepotism this time. ATumbuka osatumbukanso this time.Zomaweluza za mkutu yayi.
The future of Malawi is at stake
The future is indeed at stake with DPP plundering poor people’s resources with unnecessary appeal. Just go to the polls and see who come out victor. Mukuopa chani?
mukunena atumbuka nde alomwe ndi anthu zopusa ndimadana nazo wamva cadet. Kuzolowela kuba basi kuteloko mwasangalala kuti chikopa ali mugulu la ma judges koma palibe chomwe mungaphule muwona chigamulo chikabwera bola musazazimangilile Ameneyo amuyikapo dala chifukwa ndi amene ali ndi umboni wonse woti mumafuna kupanga bribe ma judge.
Malawi! A corrupt judge, who allegedly agreed to bribe judges in a lower court (but ended up pocketing the cash), has been given a second chance to defeat the course of justice.
You can’t make this up! If it was a novel, everyone would find the plot laughable. But in this shithole country, this is real.
Another breaking is coming!!!!!!!!!!
What happened to case he was being investigated upon? Has the judiciary secretly cleared him of the grave accusations he was facing? This will erode the trust the public will have on the ruling.
A Kamowatimwa zingomwani midoli yanuyo. You don’t have anything to say or have any knowledge. Am very sure you have mucus instead of brains. Jane Ansah does not have any image to protect so which image. Again she is retiring this June so before you spew out your vitriol do some research. I know most cadets ndiopanda nzeru komano eish
May the good lord bless and guide the judges to exercise the truth and stand for justice, Malawi needs to be liberated from these thieves and selfish people
Covid-19: The Movie. No. This is the new Malawi. That Ms. Jane Ansah never thought would arrive.
Too many judges from South and Centre.
99% of our judges are from the NORTH. That’s why they are incompetent, corrupt and misguided.