JB urges Malawi judges to deliver timely judgements
Malawi’s revered female Judge Anastarzia Msosa was on Tuesday sworn-in by President Joyce Banda to manage the Judiciary in the country following the retirement of Justice Lovemore Munlo, SC and the Head of State pointed out that Malawians have huge expectations on fairness, justice, and timely delivery of judgments.
There were also swearing-in of four new High Court Judges, two of which are female, and elevated one High Court Judge to the Supreme Court of Appeals.
The female legal practioneers, Anabel Mtalimanja and Zione Ntaba, were appointed by President Banda to be High Court Judges.
Justice Frank Kapanda promoted from High Court to serve at the Malawi Supreme Court of Appeals while Mike Tembo and Redson Kapindu have been appointed as High Court Judges.
Kapindu, who until his appointment was a lecturer at a university in South Africa, has previously served as legal counsel at the Reserve Bank of Malawi (RBM) and director of legal services at the Malawi Human Rights Commission (MHRC).
Speaking after the oaths at Kamuzu Palace in Lilongwe, President Banda charged the new Chief Justice and the Judges to dispense justice with fear of God and serve the people of Malawi to the as per the demands of the Constitution.
The President said the Judiciary is supposed to demonstrate in the delivery of services the virtues of honesty, fairness and selflessness.
“The Judiciary as the guardian of our constitution, the protector of our dignity and the guarantor of our freedoms and responsibilities, is supposed to demonstrate in the delivery of their services the virtues of honesty, fairness and selflessness,” said President Banda.
“ Judiciary will need to rise above the ordinary and guarantee justice to the nation and its people. This is more important because justice must not only be done but also seen to be done. There is a saying that justice delayed is justice denied,” said President Banda, whose husband Richard Banda SC is retired Chief Justice who served Malawi and Swaziland.
President Banda added that she appreciates the challenges faced by the judiciary hence the need for dedication.
“The poor state of the economy created challenges on resources in all the three branches of government. But none the same we are all called upon to use the few resources at our disposal to the best interest of the people we serve. It is my hope that the Judiciary will join my Government in realizing the transformational agenda that we have embarked upon,” said Banda.
The President said her administration is committed to fighting corruption in the country. But she said for the fight to succeed, all three branches of government will need to work together with the courts in the discharge of cases.
Banda said her government is also committed and demonstrates itself to upholding human rights and the rule of law.
Speaking after the swearing in Ceremony, Chief Justice, Anastasia Msosa said she is ready to serve Malawians to the best of her abilities and will ensure that the judiciary executes its properly.
A lady of memoir, Justice Msosa is the first female Judge both at the High Court and Supreme Court of Appeals in Malawi.
She is also the first Chairperson of the Electoral Commission in Malawi when the country embodied the multiparty democracy.
Msosa is also accredited for successfully overseeing in the previous elections. And as that is not enough, her name appears in the list of 20 Pioneer Achievers at the end of History of Malawi Volume 2.
President also appointed four new High Court judges Dorothy Kamanga, Rachel Sikwese, Fiona Mwale and Kenyatta Nyirenda last December.
