I won't interfere with court decisions, President Chakwera

Malawi: President Lazarus Chakwera presided over a swearing-in ceremony for four Justices of the Supreme Court of Appeal who were promoted on June 10th, 2022, at Kamuzu Palace, where he stated that his unique responsibility as president is to always promote and protect the Court's independence.

"As long as I am president, you will never hear me publicly criticise a decision you make from the bench, even if that decision is unfavourable to my administration,” he said.

Chief Justice Rezine Mzikamanda stated that they are looking forward to that commitment and are not afraid of constructive criticism.

He said: "Constructive criticisms are those that we require because we believe that they will help us improve. Unconstructed criticisms are harmful to the people of Malawi and the judiciary."

He added that completing the complement, which is 11, will help them minimise adjournments and speed up the work.

"This means we now have a full complement at the Supreme Court. The establishment is 11 and now we have 11 Justices of Appeal, which means that adjournments will be reduced and work will be expedited, indicating that we have a brighter future with these additional judges,” he said.

One of the four judges, Justice Dorothy Nyakaunda Kamanga, stated in her remarks that what President Chakwera said was just a reminder to them of the oath they took that whatever cases they presided over and decisions they made should be guided by the constitution.

She said: "As a high office, we are bound by the Oath, and whatever cases we preside over, whatever decisions we make, as his excellency stated, we are supposed to be guided by the constitution and legal prescriptions."

Silvester Kalembera, Dingiswayo Madise, Rowland Mbvundula, and Dorothy Nyakaunda Kamanga are the four Judges.