Govt to respect court order to reinstate Chief Chimombo of Nsanje -Ministry

Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development  has said it will not appeal the decision by the High Court to reinstate suspended Nsanje’s Traditional Authority Chimombo.

Muhlabase Mughogho: No appeal

Spokesperson for the ministry, Muhlabase Mughogho in an interview Thursday acknowledged receiving the court order.

She said government always respects court orders, hence no need of appealing the decision made by the High Court to reinstate the suspended traditional authority.

Mughogho, without elaborating fully, revealed that the ministry had started internal process on how the court order can be executed.

The country’s High Court ordered that suspended Traditional Authority Chimombo, Stanford Mtukula of Nsanje, be immediately restored.

The court’s Consent judgment dated November 22, 2017, filed in Blantyre, has ruled that government’s decision to relieve Mtukula of his duties was based on mere allegations that were not proven.

The court consent judgment which is signed by High Court Registrar, Lawyer for the embattled Traditional leader, Chidothe and Company, and Attorney General, is addressed to the State President, Secretary for Local Government and Rural Development, Nsanje District Commissioner, Paramount Chief Lundu and Senior Chief Malemia directing that Mtukula be reinstated immediately.

“The court is ordering and directing that the decision by government to suspend Stanford Mtukula from executing the functions of Traditional Authority Chimombo of Nsanje be wholly set aside. The decision to relieve Mtukula of his duties was based on mere allegations that were not proven,” reads part of the judgment.

The judgment further observes that a Commission of Enquiry set by government to inquire into serious allegations leveled against Mtukula did not give him an opportunity to defend himself prior to the issuance of the warning and subsequent interdiction.

The ruling has also directed that the decision to appoint Harrison Chimombo to act as Traditional Authority Chimombo of Nsanje be set aside.

The reinstated Mtukula has confirmed the development as he said is not surprised with the court judgment.

However, the Acting Traditional Authority Chimombo, Harison Chimombo, is refusing to relinquish power to the reinstated Stanford Mtukula, arguing that the authority to suspend and reinstate lies in the hand of the State President.

President Joyce Banda suspended Mtukula five years ago after some of his subjects expressed dissatisfaction over his leadership style.

 

 

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