Malawi courts suspend non urgent cases over Covid-19 cases rise

June 4, 2020 Owen Khamula - Nyasa Times 13 Comments

Judiciary says courts will now hear urgent cases because of the rising number of Covid-19 cases which now stands at over 350.

Registrar of the Malawi Supreme Court of Appeal and the High Court of Malawi Agnes Patemba

Judiciary spokesperson Agnes Patemba said the decision has been arrived at to protect staff, court users and people from the deadly disease.

“We will now be attending to urgent matters as a measure to prevent covid-19,” she said.

Some of the cases that have stalled include parliamentary election challenges of Mangochi-Monkey Bay, Nsanje south and Nsanje north.

Malawi Law Society president Burton Mhango said the scaling down of operations of the courts will have a huge negative impact on the delivery of justice in the country.

He therefore suggested that the Judiciary, the society and other stakeholders should meet to map the way forward.

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13 replies on “Malawi courts suspend non urgent cases over Covid-19 cases rise”

  3. Hypocrisy at its best…Nomwenu ma Judge mukukana za lockdown. ..nkumabweretsa ma china maka kenyette judge. Lero mukuti scaling kuli covid….timve ziti? Panopa judges allowa corruption….ACB tamangakoni awiri atatu asiye zopusazi

  4. Malawi Judiciary either it has been compromised or it has lost direction. How can courts oppose a lock down which is supposed to be one way to prevent the spread of corona 19 virus, and at the same time stop to hear non urgent cases because as they claim, they want to limit the spread. There is a word for such actions, bulshit. The courts should detach themselves from politics if they’re to remain credible for they’re making an ass of themselves. A waste of a good education. |:) (+|

  6. Those cases in many countries that are delayed are civil in nature some Family Law Issues, Criminal matters are heard by Skype or heard in person depending in the charge, election matters would proceed because of importance of the electorates right to the proper representation.

  8. I cant believe this is coming from the Courts. Urgent cases only to help prevent the spread of Covid? Which Covid? I thot that Wise Judge from the East believed there is no Covid 19 hence the need to continue congregating.

  9. Let them continue! Asasiye kuzenga milandu agalu awa! Mmesa munaletsa lockdown inuyo? Mbuli zama judge!
    Mxiew

  11. Judiciary is causing a lot of confusion. They stopped lockdown which was meant to li.mit corona spread.They are suspending hearing of cases to prevent corona spread, in the process violating human rights. This kind of contradiction happens when there is no objectivity. The judges should avoid politics when making decisions.

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