Malawi judiciary workers strike ‘politically inspired’ to derail polls case
The judiciary support staff have began an industrial action to press for higher pay and better work conditions as harmonised with those of judicial officers, be approved by parliament with immediate effect which will have a bearing to the elections case and sources say it is politically inspired to derail electoral justice.
The workers are also demanding the resignation of Chief Justice Andrew Nyirenda an Registrar of the High Court and Supreme Court of Appeal Agness Patemba for failing to address their issues.
Some judiciary workers who spoke to Nyasa Times mentioned a lawyer and ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) official as being ones orchestrating the strike to derail the presidential election case.
The two have been paying junior staff to push for the sit-in in an attempt to paralyse the election case whose trial is scheduled to start July 29.
UTM Party president Saulos Chilima (first petitioner) and Malawi Congress Party (MCP) president Lazarus Chakwera (second petitioner) are seeking nullification of the presidential results in the May 21 2019 Tripartite Elections. President Peter Mutharika, by virtue of being the declared winner, is the first respondent while MEC is the second respondent.
So to delay the progress of the case, the DPP wants to orchestrate a strike at the judiciary by bribing support staff to demand better working conditions and packages.
The DPP move has however angered the senior leadership of the judiciary who think this is a pure attack on them by the executive.
“They think they are being belittled and also they look at the whole as an attack on them. I doubt if the tactic will affect the progress of the case,” said a source within the judiciary.
Meanwhile, the Constitutional Court handling the case is to rule this Thursday on an application by Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) seeking a 14-day extension to file sworn and effectively provide direction on how the case will proceed.
Demo nation.Tizidya ma Demo basi. Someone needs to get shot to stop this nonsense!!
Ukunama mphwanga, tili ndi MDF yathuyathu ndipo sangayerekeze abale anuwo zimenezo what fuck is this!..??
Kkkkkkkkk!!, mabvuto pa malawi.Nanga izinso ndiye ziti?
Judiciary is fond of striking. I doubt if this is politically inspired.
Some of you calling for Army takeover… mukudziwa kuti kutukwana General ndi mlandu? army can not tolerate ma demo tikupangawa..let rule of law prevail..nthawi ilipo
zimenezinso ndiye ziti?.Manyi enieni.
A very sad development. Should the junior staff accept that initiative then their actions are an affront to the independence of the Judiciary. The Commonwealth Judges and Magistrate Association, to which Judge Charles Mkandawire was elected as its president, will view this move with total displeasure. So too the International Bar Association. Malawi Law Society, what is the office’s take on the impending interference? As for the grievances raised by junior staff, let the Head of Human Resource Management in the judiciary take up the matter with the Department of Human Resources Management and Development at Capital Hill.
DEAR MALAWIANS OF GOOD WILL —PLEASE GET OUT OF EGYPT WHERE YOU ARE REMOVING HOT BURNT BRICKS FROM THE BURNING FURNACES PREPARED BY DPP — ANSAH –PITALA –DAUSI –JAPPIE — GOODAL –MCHACHA –WHAT SHALL IT PROFIT YOU BY RECEIVING MK5,000 BRIBE TODAY AND SUFFER THE REST OF YOUR LIFE WITH YOUR FAMILIES ??? THINK I!
DPP thinks we are stupid they are trying their best to run away from justice .. koma anthu sititopa ayi… Secondly that should be ku blantyre konko wosati kuno… In Blantyre we have some stupid people who are evil minded who wants malawi to be a state of corruption and injustice, thats why we Blantyre escom is corrupt so as their DAD, Blantyre waterboad corrupt MACRA and MEC. The case will ok in Lilongwe not affected the results on 29th.zanuzo pangani ku blantyre konko us we trust the judges in the capital. Malawi dziko latonse ili not individulas or alhomwe… Read more »
we know very well its idiot dpp tactics but it will not work GOD is on our side and will fight the battle
Did you know the south of Malawi overwhelmingly voted for DPP?
Search for yourself
Osamangozinamiza
Try to remove Chief Justice Nyirenda and see how northerners will respond.
To my thinking , I only see Chief justice Nyirenda and General Nundwe in this administration of DPP being trully representing Northerners without fear and favour.
The others, the likes of Gondwe and friends are bootlickers of DPP.
Yea
This is tribalsitic at it’s best. Justice is not about being representd by someone from your region.