Forced retirement of Malawi’s chief justice withdrawn by new government

Government has withdrawn a public notice issued on June 12, 2020 by which stated that Chief Justice Andrew Nyirenda had been placed on leave pending retirement.

Chief Justice Andrew Nyirenda: Stat put

The administration of Peter Mutharika through former Chief Secretary to the Government, Lloyd Muhara, wanted to remove the Chief Justice on the pretext that Nyirenda had accumulated more leave days than the remainder of his working days until his

But in statement issued Tuesday  and signed by new Chief Secretary to the Government Zanga-Zanga Chikhosi says the issue of accumulated leave days of the Chief Justice is between the Judicial Service Commission and the Chief Justice himself.

It stresses that Nyirenda continues to discharge his duties as the Chief Justice of the country.

Apparently, Muhara has been redeployed back to Judiciary as High Court judge and will face same Chief Justice he wanted to be removed.

Nyirenda  was among the judges who in February annulled last year’s elections, which saw a narrow win for immediate former  president Peter Mutharika. The ruling was upheld by the appeal court and Fresh elections were held  on 23 June which was won by Lazarus Chakwera as the new President.

The second most senior justice in the country, Edward Twea, was also given notice to leave his post ahead of his retirement next year.

Mutharika was widely condemned for an ‘unprecedented assault on judicial independence’ by campaigners who states that no judge can be forced to take leave and they are are guaranteed tenure until they turn 65.

Agnes Patemba, registrar of the supreme and high courts in Malawi, said in a statement that although a chief justice is appointed by the president and confirmed by the national assembly, all matters related to discipline and welfare fell within the “exclusive province” of the judiciary.

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Shonai
3 years ago

Chisakomere akulu okha okha.Ther are plenty of civil servants who got mandatory retirement upon accumulation of days.Pls recall them as well.

Hate it or take it but it's a fact

He must pin down Thom Mpinganjira first b4 anything.

Mangochi Kabwafu
Mangochi Kabwafu
3 years ago

We’ve got a sane government at last.

First lady wawo
First lady wawo
3 years ago

bvuma wasakara

Ngbendu wa zabanga
Ngbendu wa zabanga
3 years ago

Thank you chief justice for orchestrating the coup de etat. government shall raise the retirement age specifically for you so that you will retire only if you want. What about life chief justice for you? That way bright boys like chifundo kachale can Bury their dreams

Mangochi Kabwafu
Mangochi Kabwafu
3 years ago

NYEKHWE, kikikikiiiiiiii.

amadeus
3 years ago

IDIOT!! Nyirenda has not reached 65.

Mazira
Mazira
3 years ago

cry cry cry and cry hard aise, apapa nde wadziwa kuti Nyekhwe is real hahahahahahaha

God is with Us = Emmanuel

If I were Muhara, I would retire now. This is an embarrassment of the highest degree. Muhara wrongly advised APM. The world is not a place for one tribe. Malawi is bigger than the Lomwe districts.

Junior stuff
3 years ago

Soon u will hear that retirement age in the judiciary has been increased to 70.it was part of the deal between tonse alliance and judiciary.for andrew nyirenda the best was for him to go.he is not liked by majority of junior stuff.kupondereza ana too much and kuzikonda.

Mangochi Kabwafu
Mangochi Kabwafu
3 years ago
Reply to  Junior stuff

He was being forced to retire so nkhalamba of 80+ can illegally continue to ruin the country. Dzanja linalemba basi. Hopefully he (nkhalamba) will face the same judges on his way to prison. No mercy.

Jesta
Jesta
3 years ago

I think let us take a sober opinion on this one. If indeed he has reached his retirement age or the leave days are in excess, let him go. There’s nothing wrong with it because it allows the youth to also have their chances. However if he has not reached his age and he indeed does not have the accumulated days then leave him.

Mangochi Kabwafu
Mangochi Kabwafu
3 years ago
Reply to  Jesta

It’s not up to the executive to intervene. Kulowelera za eni. Good job God removed these thugs and that Malawi is now liberated.

Mazira
Mazira
3 years ago
Reply to  Jesta

Justice Nyirenda will be 64 years old in December this year, he will reach 65 next year therefore no one can say wakula akapume. Leave issues are human resource issues between employer and employee. Judicial Service Commission is better placed to handle issue of leave days of the CJ, not the executive, sizikuwakhudza

William Chirwa
3 years ago

As a leader of the other arm of government lead lead by example if you really accumulated leave days you know it and have exercised iron your juniors before. So do the honourable thing Patemba is doing public relations for the judiciary and its a veiled indication for you to go. You are not Judiciary and it can not fail if you go after all the battle was fought by your juniors who also want to shine after you are gone

Hapana Mbejere
Hapana Mbejere
3 years ago

So Chakwera Mwamba Administration want to reward the chief justice with holiday money from our taxes? The left it to judiciary to wave the holiday issue and settle to pay the old chief? Ayi a Malawi akuona komanso ali ready kupanga mademo opanda HRDC. Tipanganso lathu bungwe lopanga critique the new government and organizing demos.

Bwana Wa Ulesi
Bwana Wa Ulesi
3 years ago
Reply to  Hapana Mbejere

Sukunama we’ve to organise our own Organization. Without gays n lesbians

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