High court dismisses Chakaka’s application on Chizuma’s interdiction case

By Chisomo Phiri

Information reaching this publication indicates the High Court in Blantyre through Judge Mike Tembo has today dismissed an application by the Malawi’s Attorney General Thabo Chakaka Nyirenda to stop permission for judicial review granted to Malawi Law Society over the interdiction of Martha Chizuma Director General of Anti-Corruption.

Government wanted the permission to be stopped on nine grounds among others that the Malawi Law Society lacks sufficient interest in the case and that the issue of interdiction of Chizuma is a private issue between Chizuma and her employer.

Government also argued that the Law Society is acting as a surrogate complainant when the actual aggrieved party is competent to challenge government decision and has not challenged no complained in this matter.

Chakaka


But Tembo has dismissed the application saying it lacks merit.

This week Malawi Law Society (MLS) obtained an injunction against the interdiction of Chizuma as well as the arrest and continued prosecution.

However, the government through Attorney General Thabo Chakaka Nyirenda yesterday made an urgent application to vacate the injunction.

The AG appointed three private practice lawyers including former Attorney General, Kalekeni Kaphale to vacate the Injunction.

Several human rights activists in the country and the US government have condemned the government’s decision on the matter, calling it a failure in the fight against corruption.