Mutharika tells MPs to hold judges accountable: ‘Malawi Parliament supreme above courts’
President Peter Mutharika has told parliament to hold judges accountable on the judgements, saying they are not immune from criticisms and that Parliament is more supreme above the courts.


In recorded state of the nation address, Mutharika said disagreeing with judgments made in the courts is part of holding the judges accountable.
He said the President and the Executive arm of government are always held accountable in parliament.
“This parliament respects courts. But that does not mean that we must agree with every judgment that comes from the courts. We must all hold one another accountable,” he said.
He told the members of parliament that parliament is more supreme than courts.
“Parliament is more supreme above the Courts. We are elected members who represent the people and we have the authority to make laws for the Judiciary to interpret,” he said.
Mutharika added that he wants a Malawi to be a country where everyone must be accountable.
“Nobody should be above the law and nobody should be above criticism. The essence of democracy is that everyone must be accountable to someone else. Only God is accountable to no one,” he explained.
He, thus, questioned: “Who holds the Judiciary accountable? I respect the Courts. Speaking my views when the Courts err is not attacking the Courts. This poor thinking must stop.”
Turning to the election case, Mutharika said that it is sad that when a Malawi Electoral Commission officer corrects a mistake it is regarded as rigging.
He, however, assured judges that they are safe in the country and they should not live in fear of criticism as long as their conscience is clear.
“As a matter of fact, no judge in this country must live in fear if you have a clear conscience,” he said.
Mutharika wants Parliament to make sober decisions to guide the running of the fresh elections.
The Malawi leader has also chastised Human Rights Defenders Coalition (HRDC) for plotting regime change through taking over the borders which was a move to suffocate government. Mutharika added that the move failed and his government has won.
He estimates that post-election demonstrations alone cost the economy about K62 billion.
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It would appear the statement “Three Arms of Government” rhetoric is all gas if one arm claims to be superior to the other.
Parliament is SUPREME because it can impeach judges. Let some of the judges be impeached.
THE PRESIDENT’S WISH IS TO HAVE CONTROL OVER THE JUDICIARY THE WAY HIS DIRECTOR OF SECURITY AT STATE HOUSE, MR CHISALE CONTROLS MWAPASA AT MALAWI POLICE SERVICE.THE PRESIDENT WILL KEEP ON DREAMING TILL HE IS EMBARRASSINGLY REMOVED FROM STATE HOUSE
.mbatata yamuthina pakhosi pitala. eh ci DENIAL thooo.
akuopa azasowa cobweza ngongole ya MUST nanga no chance will b there to control our taxes mbembeleziyu
But whether he wants it or not it will always be the Judiciary that will do the sentencing and send you to prison it is a matter of time. These are truly learned judges who put Malawi above everything else.
CORRUPT and incompetent Tumbuka judges. Let them continue and try it. They will end up running to thengere or Mzuzu Court to work there.
Healey Potani, Kapindu, Tembo, Mzikamanja….are these judges TUMBUKA?……is APM really a proffessor of Law? i doubt him.
Infact, he is the worst president Malawi has ever had………..worst of the worst. JB was far better than this president. He is incompetent.
lets see who wins and who loses…………….
this is the end of DPP/UDF/APM
Judge Potani also a Tumbuka? This is news to me! I never knew. When APM & and his DPP leadership decided to relentlessly victimize northerners he had no clue that a self-inflicted killer blow was coming and boy the hunter is now become the hunted!
Well put, the same judiciary he is trying to undermine will send APM, Bakili and the rest of DPP / UDF thieving zealots to jail.
Let us see who will have the last laugh.
@Jumah ndiwe mtondoli(lizard) coz ukanakhala munthu sukanayankhula nyasi zomwe ukunenapa
you disagree with muntarika today but you will mark his words the day the court makes a ruling against you and your beliefs. The court must be heard accountable at all costs. That is democracy. Dont just crap hands for anything even if you know its wrong because it excites you. mudzalira chokweza pa mawa
Laughable nonsense coming from a learned professor. Time is up. Start packing. It will soon get uncomfortable for all economic saboteurs and political nyusesi…
APM looks and sounds very desperate that it has become painful to listen to what he is saying.
These regime change judges are indeed treasonous. They too must be held accountable for their heinous actions like everyone else. And they are thieves too. Full of corruption.
Look now you are becoming APM’s parrot. He should not be saying these things you know because he will poison ignorant minds like yours.
You are entitled to your opinion but not the facts. Did judges bring tippex?
Stupid comment Courts only interrupted Laws Parliment has Pasted including amendments to the Constituion. If the Laws passed are NOT upheld in the Court the Parliment is obligated then to change the Law.
The President is the ONLY Treasonous individual in your post History will NOT BE kind to APM nor will he looked upon with praise from World Leaders who respect the RULE of Law to create a Constituional Crisis in one of the poorest countries in the World.
Only thing the Court did was nullify a Election because of How MEC conducted an Election it did NOT restrict the President to contest again. No Corruption.
You are right, the corrupt judges need be held to account.
Mutharika is not capable of uttering anything sensible and his toxic ignorance of the law is doing immeasurable harm to the country’s rule of law!!!
Absolutely, the guys Mutharika is too careless, undermining the courts.
Malawi is a law abiding country. The constitution and the interpreters of law (the judges) must to be respected by this caretaker president. Like thousands of people have said, the Executive, Judiciary and Legislature are three arms which are co-equal and are all guided by the constitution.
Mutharika will be breaking the law, if he keeps clinging to the position past 150 days. Mutharika is so careless such that he is making Malawi a lawless state. If the caretaker president cannot abide by the law, do you expect the citizens to follow it?
Mutharika is such a low life – the Low nutty Professor.
Correct! Parliament is supreme than courts because it can impeach judges and the president.
Yes, so impeach Mutharika.com
Yes and Parliment should IMPEACH THE PRESIDENT for NOT FOLLOWING the RULE of LAW and ensure an Election was held within 150 Days as requested by the Supreme Court.
it depends which side is feeding u
He spoke his mind and the truth. Parliament is above the Courts. And NOBODY is immune to Criticism. Judges have to be taken head on if they make erratic judgements period.
Cadet uzikozelatu iwe, just wait
Dont talk nonsense. then abolish the courts. Malawi should not be held at ransome by one stupid person
Why have Courts, Why pay taxes, Why pay Traffic Tickets, Why pay Duty when importing Goods, Why Not take the Law as you see it in your own Hands.
Americans have a saying “The Wild West” when there was No Rule of Law.
The President is behaving in this fashion by disrespecting the RULE of LAW the Constituion as interpreted by the Court and written by Parliment.
The President is NOW LOOKED DOWN UPON by World Leaders who are watching this matter very closely that Malawi does NOT abandon Democracy an enters a Start of Anarchy without Laws.
You are being stupid in your thinking. If education had benefited you, you would argue on the basis of law not absurdity. Judges argue on the basis of law. You argue on the basis of absurdity. That is why President Mutharika with all your educational accomplishments, you have now been flowed and look stupid.
Both Courts had over 500 Pages detailing their Judgments
Lawyers for MEC and the President did not rely on Law but opinion, that it was Free and Far agreeing there was irregularities. The Constituion Required MEC to follow procedures THEY DID NOT, They had additional Tally Centers, Fake Tally Sheets, incorrect Forms so many issues the Court had No option but to order a re-run of the Election. It did NOT Restrict the President to Contest in the Election. Good to have Elections
When you lose a case it is better to accept defeat. The ConCourt said it. You appealed. You lost again. Just accept you didnt win the 2019 elections. The elections had a lot of irregularities. Thats why the courts annulled such messy elections.
Bwana APM you are a trained lawyer. Do what lawyers do worldwide. Accept defeat.
Your supporters are also towing your line. If we are not careful this is recipe for trouble
Munthu akakalamba amakhala ngati mwana. We understand you mbuya
When you have got a dictator President that is what you expect always.Whats wrong with the judges?Remember it was the same APM who wanted to ascend to power when Bingu died unlawfully.The man is dangerous to our democracy.
Absolutely yet he claims to be professor of law yet he wanted to ascend to power illegally when Bingu died. Peter must know that the majority of people in Malawi don’t need him. He can not win a fair elections and he knows that. So I dont know why he is barking.
M’dala wakulitsa uyu,akungolubwa yekha yekha.Kodi dzidzukulu palibe kuti zizimuyang’anira?
Wamisala BAKHA uyuuuu!
1. 2019 presidential election was legally nullified
2. FPE will be conducted
The rest is NOISE
Wakwithu, by not acknowledging that your comment is a direct copy and paste from what was posted by Edge Kanyongolo on FB, you have committed what is known as plagiarism in academic circles.
Parliament is not more supreme than the courts. They are different branches of government and just like the executive arm the three are supposed to be equal providing checks and balances on each other. Mr Lawyer President should know this of all people.
Disgusting Speech expressing criticism of Constituional and Supreme Court of Appeal coming from State President.
You bring disrupt of the Courts that all who face Courts believing in their innocence will chastise any ruling.
Expressing such option would likely get you disbarred as a lawyer and likely your alimata Yale University and Washington University in St Louis where you taught International Law will sanction you and disassociate knowledge of you.
Your own Daughter a Lawyer will cringe at the thought of you expressing disapproval of both the Constituional and Supreme Court of Appeal Judgments against the Electorial Commission and you.
You are a sore loser the Judgments were NOT Directed against you but a independent Branch of Government the Electorial Commission who allowed fake Talley sheets, tippex, fraud,
Should be praising Courts for correcting errors of EC to ensure credible future elections.
Court Judgments are there to improve Nations and ensure Governments do the Right Things. You have TARNISHED your image as a senior Lawyer and Statesmen. SHAME
This guy has never practised any law at any level, take not he is a conman of low, there is adifference between professor of low and professor of law, the guy cant differentiate that
Mutharika please, can you grow up. You are 80, and l am only 42, yet l can vividly see that you still want to cling to power by any means. Its fine, elections were cancelled by the courts, just prepare to face the people again. Be a man. You appealed the case and lost. so why still crying, old man.
This is idiotic. The whole issue here is that he wants to cover up the fact that he and his cronies wanted to bribe the same judges he is saying are at fault, and he failed. The judges held on to their integrity. He does not like the fact that his scheme to rule Malawi illegally has hit a brick wall and he does not know where to turn to. Counting down hours towards the unknown is very difficult but that is the position he has put the whole country in. Previously he had everything in place including the assurance he was going to continue ruling because MEC was in his pocket. These are uncertain times Mr president and you have seen for yourself how unpopular you are. That should be worrying for you.
Muikireni ka clip kaja anayankhula kuti akulira. Atibera atibera mumuikire kameneko. Munthu wa misala uyu osamva ndipo osaphunxira kulakwa kwake. Kagwere ukoooo
These are background noise forget it.
The presidential elections were lawfully nullified
We will have presidential elections period.
Eish! This man is completely out of senses now. He is talking like an imbecile. He needs to have some psychiatric assessment before it is too late. The country can not be led by such caliber of a person. Please Almighty God save Malawi
The idiot has spoken
MUCHOKA AGOGO MWATSALA MASIKU OCHEPA MCPUTM WOYEEEEEEE
That is 100% corrected Mr President. Everyone should be hold accountable including the judges. In a democratic country, no one is spared from criticism. Being judges does not mean they are superior and mistakes cannot be pointed out. We may back them, weigh our support for them, pumper them, but a day will come when we will also blame them. It shows there is so deep hatred in the country, but Jehovah is the Most High.
Judgement was delivered in an open court, judges provided reasons for their judgement. Which parts of the judgement does he disagree with?
the problem with an idiot is he is never corrected unfortunately there is no cure for being an idiot, Mutharika lost in courst, courts managed their elections case via public radio stations, everyone saw what had gone wrong, terrible!!!!
Brainwashed idiot. I come to your house rape your wife and kill you and take all your belongings,
Am taken to a Court am found guilty I appeal found guilty again they set a period of incarnation jail.
But i refuse to go to jail or further participate but plead my case in the media that Court was Wrong it is a Travesty of Justice winning support from 38% of the people in the Village that I did the right thing.
The President says the Supreme Court has No powers to enforce their Judgment.
HOW WOULD YOU VOTE
I would suggest impeaching some of the judges for destroying this country with their biased and unconstitutional rulings.
cadet look for your own lomwe judges
Political imbecile
I would suggest you stop smoking the stuff you are smoking.
Ministry of Education is taking applications for new learners suggest you apply.
Better yet we now have a cure for your Blindness
Parliament should put the judges in their place. Parliament CANNOT be forced to take instructions from unelected, incompetent and corrupt people calling themselves judges.
cadet unyunya mikozotu mmm uliratu walira mokweza cadet
After refusing to be bribed.
Mkulu uyu ofunika ku kwapula ndi matsatsa. (..Malawi does not deserve this idiot. Always whining, crying like a girl, …..)
KKKKKKKKK
Malawians are ready for voting. Great that parliament is meeting – come 2nd July 2020 we shall have a duly elected leader!!
You can tell this guys is finished, like totally…….still doesn’t accept the court’s ruling! Mwagwa nayo akulu
Awa ndi mavuto ndithu. Tiyeni tipemphere izi zitichoke pakati pa ife. He says the courts interpret the law. What happens after interpreting the laws? What are judgements about? MEC was given a chance to be heard by the courts. APM was given a chance to be heard. The balance of probability was against MEC. Do you want to win everything because you are the president? Who saved Chaponda? Who saved Ulemu Msungama? Who saved you in 2014? Do you remember Joyce Banda cancelled the 2014 elections? What did the courts say about what Joyce Banda did? We have an idiot as a leader of Malawi. An ignoramus.
Koma ayise ndakuvulira kachipewa…umaitha
Brother,
I cant even understand what this idiot is talking about, Mutharika is really sick, i now understand that he must be a professor of low and not law!!!
You mean the biased courts with Tumbuka judges taking instructions from Joyce Banda and her husband former chief justice Richard Banda. You think we are stupid.
Yes you are stupid. Achawa kwanu ndiku jando osanyoza a Tumbuka kwawo ndiku ma office chifukwa amaphunzira. Ndizotheka baba awudzeni ana anu apite ku school nawonso adzakhala ma judge
Achawa ambiri omwe ali asilamu ndi opusa, mukutero? Tionana pa ballot.
@ juma.We don’t think u r stupid,we know u r stupid
@Juma, Cadet walira ndi mfundo zosanveka…we do not think you are stupid…we know for a fact that you are very stupid!!!
Confirming that Mutharika has divided the Nation. He should vacate and go back to USA we don’t need him’
Juma you are very stupid with your agogo ako ,the very Tumbuks Judge put your agogo in 2014 as Malawi president that time you were silent though it was midnight judgement today your are insulting them , shut up your mouth accept the reality my brother
Kodi che Juma, You think it is still relevant to talk about Tumbuka judges? And you think your tribe is more important. You are a silly person especially. Those so called tumbuka judges made a decision which is making your tribes men to spend sleepless night.
you had 12 yrs implementing quota system aimed at dealing with the same Tumbukaz, you changed every positions in govt to help your tribe, but u failed to do in the Judicial, does it mean u didnt even identify some cadet Judges from the Lomwe belt? it simply means u didnt even have one to locate the whole lomwebelt population of 4 million there, have you seen how GOD works? you cant kill lion my brother, the lion has stung back when u didnt expect, pain pain pain yokha
Unfortunately Mutharika was fooled by his brother that they own Malawi. He can delay change but cannot stop it. His SONA proves that this man wants to remain in power at all costs. The beginning of 5he end