Malawi court shut down:Judiciary staff strike to demand  increased pay over rising costs

Industrial action has commenced at one of the three arms of Malawi government -the Judiciary -purportedly to force government to increase their pay.

Courts were closed on Friday across the country,  and the members of staff say they will keep their tools down until government honours their demands.

According to some of the staff members who talked to Nyasa Times, government “must honour” what it pledged to them in 2014.

Government had raised salaries by 27 per cent of the 45 per cent that the employees had demanded in another strike that lasted two months two years ago.

“With the economic turmoil we are facing right now,  it is only imperative that government should finish honouring what they pledged,” said one officer.

Judiciary spokesman Mlenga Mvula confirmed to the press about the industrial action.

He said there would be meetings on Monday between the members of staff and relevant authorities to chart the way forward.

As for Friday,  the members of staff — much as they reported to work — they spent the whole day outside their offices chatting.

The industrial strike could result in the overflowing of police cells and prisons which are already over-congested.

It is skeptical if government will honour the increase if the country’s present economic status is anything to go by.

The kwacha continues to suffer massive devaluation with current inflation pegged at 22 per cent.