Judge Kenyatta a ‘Covidiot’, draw wraths of Malawi govt for lacking patriotism

March 23, 2020 Zawadi Chilunga - Nyasa Times 57 Comments

Covidiot is a combination of two words, COVID-19 (aka coronavirus) and ‘idiot’. The Urban Dictionary has coined the term “covidiot” to describe those who go against public health advice amid the coronavirus outbreak and High Court Judge Kenyatta Nyirenda’s decision to issue a court order that led to the release of four Chinese nationals who had been quarantined on arrival at Kamuzu International Airport (KIA) last Tuesday has earned him that tag.

Judge Kenyatta Nyirenda accused of undermining Covid-19 efforts by Malawi government

Minister of Information, Civic Education and Communications Technology Mark Botomani has said in a statement that  government is ‘disturbed and dismayed’  by Nyirenda’s order which prevented the deportation of the four Chinese nationals, saying it shows lack of   patriotism.

The minister adds that by issuing the order, the judge had undermined local and global efforts to protect people’s lives from the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) disease which has killed thousands globally.

Said Botomani: “At a time different players are taking active roles to prevent importation of Covid-19 into Malawi, it is disappointing that Judge Nyirenda is pulling in the opposite direction. The court order has potential to make Malawi a weak link in global efforts to fight Covid-19.”

He said he feared that the judge’s action may have already put millions of Malawians at potentially high risk of contracting the virus.

He added: “We find it unfortunate that of all players, it should be the Judiciary that chooses to put the lives of millions at a potential risk, especially at a time players in different sectors have complied with Government’s guidance in Covid-19 prevention.”

Botomani said government has encouraged the Department of Immigration and Citizenship Services to apply for the vacation of the injunction for the sake of fighting Covid-19.

Justice Nyirenda granted the injunction without hearing from the director general of Immigration and Attorney General, as first and second respondents respectively, advising them that should they want to have the injunction varied or discharged, local lawyers for the Chinese nationals must be notified 48 hours beforehand.

The judge stated the injunction was valid up to March 26 2020, the same day an inter partes hearing will be held on the case

The order also forced the Department of Immigration to remove the four, Lin Xiaoxiao, Liu Zhigin, Wang Xia and Tian Hongze, from quarantine at KIA, effectively restraining the Immigration from sending back the four to China, warning that should the order be disobeyed, they [immigration officials] risked  being imprisoned or have their assets seized.

The four were released even before being tested for coronavirus and before the recommended 14-day quarantine period had elapsed.

Malawi is yet to record a case of the coronavirus but neighbors Zambia, Mozambique and Tanzania have recorded cases.

On Friday, Presidenr Peter Mutharika decalred a State of Disaster and  imposed a travel ban on foreign nationals from highly affected countries such as Italy, China, Germany and United Kingdom.

To prevent the spread of the virus, Malawians are being encouraged to follow precautionary measures such as washing of hands frequently with soap and water; avoiding handshakes; maintaining social distance with people; and avoiding touching eyes, nose and mouth.

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57 replies on “Judge Kenyatta a ‘Covidiot’, draw wraths of Malawi govt for lacking patriotism”

  3. Kwaphulikanso ina deadly Hantavirus ku China komwekotu! Ndiye mukamangowalowetsa ma China chisawawa, muthetsa mtundu wa aMalawi ndi dyera lanulo!

  6. As a country, we have the best opportunity to ensure we manage the Corona pandemic professionally within our boarders.

    Could I plead that as a country we elist expertise from China who are now have expertise in talking this pandemic.

    I feel this would be an innovative and a great mark of leadership in our national fight against this pandemic, which if not we’ll handled could be a major threat to our economy and the citizenry at large.

    Please ensure that no one has the power to overrule the control measures put in place to manage this very serious pandemic. NO ONE.

  7. Justice Kenyatta Nyirenda is the epitome of the stinking rot in the Malawi Judiciary system. He’s the most shamelessly corrupt judge in the history of Malawi. He stinks and he’s the devil incarnate!

  8. Because he is Nyirenda atumbuka onse including awa a civil society akhala chete. Tikukuonanitu. Koma akanakhala Msakambewa, Abillu kapena Nantchengwa bwenzi pano Andrew Nyirenda ataitanitsa disciplinary committee.

    1. Inunso ndiye achitsilutu. Koma coronavirus mukuyiziwa kapena mungolankhulira choncho chifukwa cha umbuli wanuwo. Zomwe kenyatta wachitta is bad for every Malawian including your miserable relatives.

  11. The court order was made well before the president declared state of Disaster in Malawi.
    Check the date of court order and date of declared State of Disaster.

    1. The guys were in quarantine. why remove them. You are probably outside Malawi and don’t give a rats ass if people die.

    2. He shouldn’t have waited for declaration of state of disaster. And the argument is not whether the order came after the declaration or before it. The issue is why could he let in the Chinese nationals when government had banned entry to all people coming from coronavirus hot spots.

  12. It would have been very helpful if the reporter had told us the facts of the case other than just saying that the judge had released them. My fellow malawians there is more to this case than what Botomani and that chap Mmadi at immigration told the nation. It’s clear to see that the government is trying to score some cheap political points. The govt wants to use the judge in order so that it hides it’s own inefficiency regarding covid. Why should government care about the risk from 4 people when hundreds upon hundreds enter the country unchecked. It just doesn’t add up. Fellow malawians, wake up and smell the coffee.

    1. Being qarantined was for the sake of Medical issue .and is resonably world wide .But as usual Malawian Judicial stinks and is rotten.
      5 other Judges ordering a Tipexed elected Parlimentarians to screwtines the very MEC that is said imcopitent by allowing tipexed elected members to rule us

  14. Why did the government want to deport these Chinese nationals, because they had come from China or they had Corona virus, if the government believe that they people are a danger to the society why hasn’t the government use the same powers they use to arrest human rights defenders.

    1. They were on quarintine iwe nawenso pending deportation should coronavirus be detected after the incubation period, zikumveka?

  15. Tumizani bwana Justice Kenyatta Nyerenda ku Italy kwa mwezi umodzi okha akaphunzire kuopsya kwa Covid-19. Boma lisamangodandaula ngati anthu wamba pamene mukudziwa bwino lomwe kufunika kwa study tour. Munthuyu sakudziwa kuopsya kwake akuyesa ndi malungo. Mtumizeni kumeneko kabwelako sazapanganso zimenezi. Ndipo this will be a lesson to his fellow Judges.

  17. Poti kenyatta is a sacred cow, there is no interdiction. Akanakhala chitsakamire ndiye wowowowo agness patemba kulalata. Judiciary yathuyi yawola. They rule based on personal hatred of the defendant or plaintiff. I don’t think other nations judiciary can even quote our biased rulings. Our judiciary can even release personal friends from jail and put them on bail for 2 years. Even allowing those friends to direct their rulings

  18. inu mwaiwala corona virus wanu (jane ANSAH) mukumukaniza kuti asapumeyo yet malawians have said we dont want her running our elections

  19. Just trying to Find a Scape goat ..Ndi Anthu angati akumatoyenda Zamadulira South Africa to Malawi – to and from ….Akumayezedwa?Mmene Ziliri ku Joni sangatibweretsere kolona ? Just make sure ma Ventilator alimo okwanira mzipatala plus ma mask ….Like someone was Saying in America Testing only Confirms the disease but it does not matter- because you Only Treat Symptoms- Khaya munthu atodwala Chimfine Chabe Start treating the Symptoms and self isolate ….What matters is having the Medicines and Equipment to Treat Symptoms-….

    1. Typical of cadets now they are making Justice Kenyatta a scapegoat. Malawi is the only country with no confirmed case of Covid-19. Why? It had taken centuries before “those noncovidiots” to make tests available.
      Jefule said it all DPP ndi mfiditi, they stop at nothing.

    1. The most stupid comment i have ever heard. Why the hate? Osamakhalira tsankho as if muno muli kalikonse kwa inu mumazitama. Malawi is not progressing because of this mindset

  22. This is the same judge that saved clueless Mutharika and his DPP from a sure re-count that would have exposed their electoral misconduct in 2014 but has now turned into an ‘idiot’ because he insisted on the Authorities following the laid down rules and procedures just as he did in 2014 when he gave the re-count proponents whatever constitutionally mandated time was remaining to do the re-count!!!

    1. Don’t understand how dangerous covid19 is.
      The judge would have granted them that on condition of they tested negative,that’s bad decision hope they are negative

    2. @Mchisala. I will give you some free advice. Know the facts of the cases before you start commenting. The case in 2014 was whether there was a provision in the.constitution for an extension to the 8 day limit when election results are announced. Unfortunately for the petitioners at the time, the constitution didn’t have that provision. Am sure you know that judges do not make laws. Six years later, the constitution is yet to be amended to include such a provision. Osamangoyankhula mchimbulimbuli.

  23. Malawi has the smartest lawyers on the continent : APM, Jane, Kenyatta etc
    Wait patiently to see fruits of your brightest minds!

  24. Many people think our judges are knowledgeable and give their rulings in public interest. Well, they don’t. They are biased and foolish people – they give their rulings because they have been bribed and out of myopia. So, don’t take any of their flawed rulings seriously.

  25. The problem here is not Kenyata alone but even the lawyer who represented these 4 Chinese people. The lawyer money too much than Amai ake amene afabe ndi matenda amenewa galu weniweni.

  27. A lawyer like him, is a typical example of what Katsala bemoaned recently at the Mangochi Lawyers Conference. This man has put greed foremost at the expense of the Nation and does not care one little bit about what happens to Malawians as a result of his selfishness.
    If I recall, this is not the first time he has been famous for wrong things, in the process tarnishing the name of what most of us believe is a profession associated with seriousness and honesty. Can’t such individuals be casitrated professionally?

    No wonder some people label lawyers liers.

  28. Judge Kenyatta is an example of how corrupt and incompetent our judiciary is. He is just following in the footsteps of those misguided Concourt judges – apparently ruling against government.

    1. Thought ndi ambuyako opanda mano aja omwe amapanga bribe ma judge aja. Are you not surprised that ACB is dragging its feet to arrest the other two mentioned? We know the other one is Muhara and Muhara is Chief Secretary working in the Office of President and Cabinet, the link to the corrupt president. If you think the concourt judges were bribed by whoever you think, why not present the evidence to ACB as others did. Ubakhawu muvutikanawo ndithu. What you need is mental liberation as it appears you swallow everything the Mchachas and Mussas feed you.

  29. Justice Nyirenda please know that what you have done is very very unfair to every Malawian. Young and old rich and poor. Simunawonetse Chikondi ngati munthu wankulu. We hear that this illness is worse on those with pre existing conditions and as a nation we are full of such people. Please take time to consider your actions and may God grant you wisdom henceforth

  31. Siyemwe uja wanu uja mumakalumbilitsana kukhala president at 12 midnight? Siyemweyu uyu ameneyu……………..? Pano mwakhulupilila tsopano popeza wachita mosagwirizana ndi inu pomwe m’mbuyomu mumkachemelera kuti ndi munthu odziwa ntchito koma lero mwatembenuka mpaka kumutchula “covidiot”!! Akulu akale anati timkanena anathera mu siiiiizi!! Ngati wanu yemwe wayamba kuchita zotsutsana nanu ndiye tiziti chani? Chonde ingozisiyani, chifukwa palibe uyo akumveleninso!!

    Mwinatu zoona ndi zija wanena Hon Mkaka, kuti ukaona munthu wamkulu kulu, m’mene alili apm ndi Jane akukanilila pa mpando, dziwani kuti waonongelapo ndipo sakufuna kuti ena adziwe zomwe wachitapo pampandopooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!

  32. when he ruled at midnight kuti mwawina it was fine…….but now……ok ok ok its about time…

  33. Lero mwaukilra Kenyatta inu a DPP? Mmesa anakupatsani u president ameneyu in 2014? Apanda iyeyu sibwezi mutagwidwa 2014 kuti mumabera zisankho anyapaphi inu?

  34. Now he is a bad judge and yet he is the same judge who rushed to have Mutharika declared winner in 2014 when Joyce Banda protested.

  35. The Malawi judiciary as a whole needs to be overhauled from top to bottom. Our judges are making questionable, partisan, idiotic and naive judgements that have undermined our judicial system. If a whole chief justice can make such a judgment, what can you expect from his juniors.

    1. They are different people altogether Mr Anzeru unless if to you ‘mere’ and ‘were’ are the same.Check their names properly despite all having the same surnames

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