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.

MCP secretary general Elsenhower Mkaka seen laughing as Mutharika was making his virtual address.- Photo by Govati Nyirenda
President Mutharika: No judge in this country must live in fear if you have a clear conscience

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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mtete
mtete
3 years ago

It would appear the statement “Three Arms of Government” rhetoric is all gas if one arm claims to be superior to the other.

Xaxa
Xaxa
3 years ago

Parliament is SUPREME because it can impeach judges. Let some of the judges be impeached.

VYOTO
VYOTO
3 years ago

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

nafundo zalo
nafundo zalo
3 years ago

.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

Kandulu
Kandulu
3 years ago

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.

Bina
Bina
3 years ago
Reply to  Kandulu

CORRUPT and incompetent Tumbuka judges. Let them continue and try it. They will end up running to thengere or Mzuzu Court to work there.

political commentator
3 years ago
Reply to  Bina

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.

political commentator
3 years ago
Reply to  Bina

lets see who wins and who loses…………….
this is the end of DPP/UDF/APM

Chiga
Chiga
3 years ago
Reply to  Bina

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!

Shatta
Shatta
3 years ago
Reply to  Kandulu

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.

Mthetwa
3 years ago

@Jumah ndiwe mtondoli(lizard) coz ukanakhala munthu sukanayankhula nyasi zomwe ukunenapa

Bauleni
3 years ago

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

Ken Phiri
Ken Phiri
3 years ago

Laughable nonsense coming from a learned professor. Time is up. Start packing. It will soon get uncomfortable for all economic saboteurs and political nyusesi…

Wisdom
Wisdom
3 years ago

APM looks and sounds very desperate that it has become painful to listen to what he is saying.

Nyusesi
3 years ago

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.

Wisdom
Wisdom
3 years ago
Reply to  Nyusesi

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.

#NotMyPresident
#NotMyPresident
3 years ago
Reply to  Nyusesi

You are entitled to your opinion but not the facts. Did judges bring tippex?

Supreme Court
Supreme Court
3 years ago
Reply to  Nyusesi

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… Read more »

Veta
Veta
3 years ago
Reply to  Nyusesi

You are right, the corrupt judges need be held to account.

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