Malawi newspaper accuses President Mutharika of ‘playing double standards’ on court orders

A leadining daily newspaper in Malawi has used its editorial comment on Thursday to accuse President Peter Mutharika of  ‘playing double standards”  over his protest against growing number of  injunctions  being issued by the courts.

Dr Sunduzwayo Madise: Mutharika’s comments were unfortunate as courts grant injunctions on merit

Mutharika said at Sanjika Palace in Blantyre yon Tuesday during the swearing-in of the two newly appointed High Court judges Jack N’riva and Thomson Ligowe, that some of the injunctions as “unreasonable and irresponsible”.

But legal scholars have pointed out in a story carried by The Nation newspaper of Thursday that it is not the first time  the presidency has complained about injunctions. Mutharika’s brother, the former president late Bingu Wa Mutharika also expressed the frustrations on the matter and his administration, which had almost same machinery like that of the incumbent,  passed a controversial law barring injunctions against government, but was later repealed during Joyce Banda’s administration.

In its editorial comment, the paper pointed out that an injunction is a remedy that a complainant gets from the court and that “it is a right that should not Ben tampered with.”

The paper said Mutharika’s complaint  “smacks of double standards”, saying the President could be suggesting that the injunctions are erroneously granted or they the Judiciary is incompetent and indifferent to the situation  and that would be “undermining another arm of government.”

It backed the Judiciary, saying injunctions are granted “on merit”.

And legal scholars – Professor Danwood Chirwa, Mwiza Nkhata and Sunduzwayo Madise – said in comments quoted by the paper that President Mutharika’s comments were unfortunate and a threat to the morality and independence of the judicial officers, a view shared by Malawi Law Society honorary Secretary General Micheal Goba Chipeta.

Chirwa, based at South Africa’s University of Cape Town, is quoted saying the President “has used and abuse the injunctions law to his own benefit when it suited him.”

Dr Madise, who teaches law at Chancellor College of the Universitybof Malawi, said the courts   Do not just issue injunctions Willy-milky.

“Courts do not decide on cases on their own. They are asked by litigants. And even where they are moved, courts do not just issue injunctions. they must be satisfied that the circumstance warrant the granting of an injunctions,” he said in quotes reported by the paper.

 

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zumba
zumba
6 years ago

Madise ukumalemba wekha nkhani kuti tiziona kachipewa ka PhD (ko) Attention seeker suzakuthera. You are not the first person to obtain that qualiffication. Tivutikatu nawe asaaaaa. Uzikhala ngati Professor Dan Chirwa mnyamata wozindikira.

Dr Tambala
Dr Tambala
6 years ago

don’t forget some judge gave an injunction to stop the ACB from questioning an Indian Businessman who was suspected of committing a crime!! wasn’t that a stupid injunction?

Malawi
Malawi
6 years ago

A president sakunama nanga ma injunction mpakana usiku anthu akugona. They raise a lot of suspicions. Moti anthu akumanga kutchinga chipatala pa Bwaila Hospital apa those injunctions were granted on merit? Merit yasintha dzina kapena meaning?

Maunits
Maunits
6 years ago

Peter will need the very same injunctions come 2019. He does things as if he has not studied law. Very shameful.

mmc
mmc
6 years ago

But some injunctions are really questionable.. . Ma court don’t act like u are holy….ka injunction ka ku Mzuzu anakhwatcha Supreme court Judge kaja bwaa?

Murupale pa Thyolo
Murupale pa Thyolo
6 years ago

Mr. President just stop making stupid decisions and the injunctions will stop naturally as well. kkkkkkkkk Professor wa Law walira ndi ana anzeru. kkkkkkkkkk

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