By Shaffie A Mtambo
Harold Moya and Moffat George, two men who were wrongfully arrested and detained for over three years, are facing an agonizing wait for justice. The duo was accused of murdering a person who later turned up alive in Mozambique. Despite being cleared of the case and released through a discontinuance order in May 2023, their quest for compensation and justice is yet to commence in court.
Moya and George’s lawyer, Tiyamike Chigoneka, expressed frustration that the case, which was supposed to be heard within 28 days, has been delayed for 10 months. The judiciary cited a backlog of cases as the reason for the delay. This development has raised concerns about the efficiency of the justice system in Malawi and the plight of victims of wrongful detention.
The case of Moya and George is not an isolated incident. According to the National Registry of Exonerations, over 3,500 people have been exonerated in the United States alone, with many more cases likely going unreported.The registry also reports that the total time these exonerated people spent in prison adds up to 31,900 years.
In Malawi, the delay in hearing Moya and George’s case has sparked concerns about the ability of the justice system to provide timely redress for victims of wrongful detention. The Malawi Police Service has faced criticism for its handling of the case, and the delay in hearing the case has only added to the frustration of the victims and their families.
As Moya and George wait for their case to be heard, they are left to ponder the impact of their wrongful detention on their lives. The experience has likely caused them significant emotional trauma, financial loss, and damage to their reputation. The delay in hearing their case only serves to prolong their suffering and deny them the justice they deserve.
