CSOs slapped with K80m legal costs over Lake Malawi water project case: Khato wins

Two  civil society organisations   – Youth and Society (YAS) and Centre for Human Rights and Rehabilitation (CHRR)  – whose application to  replace Malawi Law Society (MLS) in the Salima- Lilongwe Water Project case has been dismissed by Malawi Supreme Court of Appeal will have to cough out an approximately of over  K80 million as legal costs for their litigation.

Theu: Represented the civil society organisations

Mzuzu-based YAS and CHRR will have to pay the amount which is 80% of the total legal costs of a case which they  resurrected through a fresh application as ordered by the Supreme Court of Appeal Judge Lovemore Chikopa.

On November 15 and 24 this year YAS and CHRR filed an ex parte notice of motion with the Supreme Court to either join or substitute Malawi Law Society (MLS) who months ago obtained an injunction to stop Khato Civils from undertaking the Lake Malawi Water Supply project.

MLS wanted the High Court to review a decision by Lilongwe Water Board (LWB) to award Khato Holdings a contract for the project before an Enviromental and Social Impact Assessment was done.

However, both the Supreme Court of Appeal  threw out MLS case for lack of understanding of the technicalities of the project.

In a ruling dated December 22 2017, Supreme Court of Appeal judge Lovemore Chikopa said the wishes of both CHRR and YAS have not been granted because at the time of making the application, whatever proceedings had existed between MLS and the respondents, Khato Holdings, had ceased to exist after leave had expired and there was no renewal.

YAS and CHRR also sought from the Supreme Court an extension of the time within which to lodge the matter before the full Court for the reversal, variation or setting aside of the decision of the single member, Justice Chikopa.

But Justice Chikopa said the application for extension of time cannot be granted as both YAS and CHRR have no standing to bring the application and are not yet to become parties to the proceedings in respect of  whom the order was sought aside from the fact that they did not have a good reason on the basis of which extension could be granted.

Now that the application has been thrown out, the two organisations and their lawyer Bright Theu have to deal with settling of the huge amount.

Affidavits for YAS and CHRR were signed by Charles Kajoloweka and Timothy Mtambo respectively.

CHRR executive director Timothy Mtambo said they reserve theirt  until they get a briefing from their legal counsel  Theu

The recent ruling clears way for Lilongwe Water Board to proceed construction of the Lake Malawi Water Supply Project which has missed several deadlines due to court litigation.

Lake Malawi Water Supply project will upon completion pump, purify and move 100 cubic metres of water from Salima to Lilongwe City everyday.

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Katerina
Katerina
6 years ago

Good that these stupid CSOs have been shown an exit door. You cant just oppose anything when the Lilongwe residents are going through water problems..Stupid

Mtombo
Mtombo
6 years ago

“Mzuzu based YAS and CHRR?” Does this not mean something wrong with these Yankees or it’s a mere coincidence?

David
David
6 years ago

“On November 15 and 24 this year YAS and CHRR filed an ex parte notice of motion with the Supreme Court to either join or substitute Malawi Law Society (MLS) who months ago obtained an injunction to stop Khato Civils from undertaking the Lake Malawi Water Supply project” Maybe my understanding of legal processes is basic, but how exactly does a judge ruling that (a) ” the wishes of both CHRR and YAS have not been granted because at the time of making the application, whatever proceedings had existed between MLS and the respondents, Khato Holdings, had ceased to exist… Read more »

Jame
Jame
6 years ago
Reply to  David

Sungazimvetse till udzapeze chiphunzitso choyenerela.. Nchifukwa chake zinthuzi amapitila ku sch anzanu!

ovaha mbwiyanga
ovaha mbwiyanga
6 years ago

Khato kuzamupasa Mtambo yakumbuyo pamenepaja. Yonse yomwe amakonda Mtumbuka Mtambo mpaka ice cream. You stupid CSOs you cant be the jacks of all trades. You need to focus solely on mathanyula. SDG #4 is very clear on access to water and you want to deny people this access. Shame on you atambwali inu. Kajolowela please go to KK and buy more weed paja iwe chamba ndiye umadya chambili. The govt has good plans to develop this country and you are busy bringing in nepotistic remarks like your leader of oppossing fools in parliament

Banda
Banda
6 years ago

Mbonga Matonga, one major reason why Malawi and Africa do not develop is under-utilisation of resources. If Lake Malawi belonged to Mzungu-land it could have been effectively used to pump clean water, generate electricity, produce bounty agriculture (crops, fish), profitable tourism etc.

woyiwonera patali
woyiwonera patali
6 years ago

Kuonetsa udoro. Basi mutseketsa mabungwetu apa.

Timvê ziti
Timvê ziti
6 years ago

Yes. No wonder we are not developing. Every organisation wants to feel important. Cough up now. Good lesson. Dont mess with the super league.

Waku Gauteng
Waku Gauteng
6 years ago

Big boys don’t embark on huge projects without reinforcing themselves with excellent legal advice Khato are taking in these projects because there is so much in for them otherwise why would they risk taking in such work. Wake up guys this is no ordinary businessman. He is sharp and witty and I can assure you he knows when to cast his last dice. Many could learn from him

Mbonga Matoga
Mbonga Matoga
6 years ago

This proposal to pump water from lake Malawi sounds like a very good idea on paper but in reality it is not…..in fact in the next few years Malawians will realise that this was just another gimmick for those in power to make a fortune out of it…. I know for a fact that most Malawians suffer from logic deficiency, so I will try to make a few points below to try to jog your memory…. First of all mine is a question, does those people who are advocating for this project know how much electric power would be required… Read more »

Samuel
Samuel
6 years ago
Reply to  Mbonga Matoga

Thanks very much for your concerns. Our main problem about electricity blackouts is not the low levels in Lake Malawi and Shire River. Escom if a problem my friend. WHY? It has failed to invest in water harvest. Its a fact, whether you pump it to Lilongwe or not the status will be the same, Our Lake Malawi will still go to Mozambique. We need this water for farming as well. Just encourage Escom to invest in water harvest and conservation. Stay blessed.

Jame
Jame
6 years ago
Reply to  Mbonga Matoga

Your perspectice z all based and focused on the present and nothing about tge future. Secondly u are basing on fears lik do knw how much electricity this wud require, but u dont even know tht urself. Thus ua not arguing on facts but mere fears…..then u conclude stop the project? Oh 1. Lilongwe is fast growing and tge need t source water not only for today but for years to come z non negotiable. 2. In as far as magetsi anthu ndiosakwanira panopo, it doesnt mean Malawi shud stop developing new industries. Rather mire efforts shud b made to… Read more »

Chioza
Chioza
6 years ago
Reply to  Mbonga Matoga

I see u have a lot of nonsense in wat u are calling logical argument. So govt should stop the salima water project bcoz there is another Linthipe water project? You are sure Lilongwe does not need all this water??? The problem, we are facing electricity challenges today is because of the same myopic decisions like yours. We dont need to wait to see the problem and then start running up a down. We need these water projects in all the districts from chitipa to nsanje. Just for your info, soon most of our electricity will be generated from coal… Read more »

mwanamulopwana
mwanamulopwana
6 years ago
Reply to  Mbonga Matoga

shut up Mbonga, you don’t reason

Kalikokha
Kalikokha
6 years ago

Let the water project continue. Let this project show those with little brain why malawians need to take care of the lake and not spoil it with hazardous industrial activities within its precincts.

This project is one of the many useful ways our lake will stimulate economic growth in future.

STOP OIL DRILLING PLANS NOW!

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