Judicial corruption in Malawi ‘a present danger’, says Chief Justice
Chief Justice Andrew Nyirenda said on Friday that corruption has become “a present danger” that can easily overshadow the integrity of the country’s Judiciary.
Nyirenda was speaking in Blantyre during Sherry party – a celebration marking the opening of the Judiciary’s legal year.
He confessed that just as it is with every other sector, corruption exists in the Judiciary ,which has recently been tarnished with allegations of judge shopping.
Nyirenda said they can’t bury their heads in the sand pretending that the Judiciary do not have incidents of corruption, saying that would be “foolhardy” .
“We really cannot sit back and think nothing is happening at the institution,” said Nyirenda.
The Chief Justice added:“Surely, we must be concerned about corruption in the Judiciary. We must acknowledge that corruption has become a present danger that can easily overshadow the integrity of our Judiciary.”
His comments comes after Lilongwe-based High Court Judge Charles Mkandawire recently admitted that corruption exists in the Judiciary.
“We in the Malawi Judiciary have accepted that corruption does exist in the Judiciary. We do not want to leave in a fools’ paradise where we become so defensive about judicial corruption,” he said in published reports.
Mkandawire said it it is because of this realisation that the The Chief Justice had decided to establish the Judicial Integrity Committee chaired by a High Court judge.
“This committee does sensitise judicial officers and staff on the evils of corruption in the judiciary. It investigates complaints of corruption in the judiciary and makes recommendations to the Judicial Service Commission which may even lead to prosecution,” he said.
During the Sherry party, Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs Samuel Tembenu urged the Judiciary to seriously look at the issue of corruption.
On her part, Malawi Law Society (MLS) vice-president Tadala Chinkwezule said it is “disheartening’’ to note that corruption is “rampant” in courts, saying it “erodes the confidence that citizens have in the judicial system.”
The event also graced by former president Joyce Banda who accompanied her husband , tretired Chief Justices Richard Banda, who was honoured by the Judiciariary together with Leonard Unyolo, the late Friday Makuta and the late Justice Lewis Chatsika, by naming some of its court sessions.
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Cry my beloved country
Bloody fools. Your country is going to the dogs.
Keep blaming the amwenye and suck the a** of the azungu.
Totally afree
Really Nyirenda, and what are you doing about it? You’re good at talking the talk but apparently refuses to walk the talk judged by you failure to take action against judges with outstanding judgments. The point is you yourself are not leading by example as you are also resting on your laurels by not doing your own work, forget about disciplining the other corrupt bunch of crooks. What has happened to the oath you all had to take before becoming a judge? Let’s be honest, corruption and other forms of criminality as well as a total dereliction of duty had… Read more »
Corruption is like chiwerewere, zimachitika kobisika, unless we fear God apo bii, sangathe. Coz inu amene mukuwelenga comment iyi ndinunso a katangale. Mutapeza mpando waukulu padziko pano muzakhala okhulupilika inu? Simudzapeleka ntchito ku mtundu wakwanu inu?
akanatani poti zayambira kwa citizen number one ndi k145,000,000.00 nanga iwo ndalama zakuzifuna?
Although not proven, the rumour that lawyers buy judges to pass judgement in their clients’ favour seems credible if one goes by some of the recent cases where it looked so obvious judgement would have gone the other way.
Absolutely true. The situation has become dire as the latest trend is no longer the merits of cases but rather the “cost” of certain judges.
It is good that the judiciary has come open about the corruption @ judicial service hence a step a head in curbing the malpractice.
Stupid, tell us about chilima’s utm hearing in court yesterday. That should have been the first story to print.
Ma lawyer ndi ma judge a ku Malawi are even more corrupt than the police and road traffic department.
They are the most corrupt profession. They also rank at number 1 on dishonesty, theft and fornication.
That the rot of corruption is endemic in the Executive and Legislative institutions of government cannot be denied, but to suppose that it also exists in the Judiciary gives a chill of disquiet down one’s spine. The bench should be the last bastion of integrity where the citizenry should look up to and depend upon. It is heartening to note that the CJ recognizes this and is taking steps to stem this stench before it further festers on the honourable bench.