Court orders former president, chief secretary to government to pay K69m

Registrar of High Court Patrick Chirwa has ordered former president Peter Mutharika and former chief secretary to government Lloyd Muhara to pay 69 million kwacha for their role in the attempt to remove chief justice Andrew Nyirenda and Justice Edward Twea

Chirwa was mandated to assess Mutharika and Muhara on their role in the matter

“This means that the two will share the costs,” Chirwa

Malawi Law Society, association of magistrates in Malawi and Malawi Human rights defenders coalition applied to court to order Mutharika and Muhara to personally meet the costs of the case

Tonse Alliance government reversed the order by Mutharika government to send Nyirenda and Twea to forced leave

On June 12, Mutharika’s office issued a notice which said that Chief Justice Andrew Nyirenda had been placed on leave pending retirement with immediate effect.

According to the notice, Nyirenda had accumulated more leave days than the remainder of his working days until his retirement.

Nyirenda, who took office in March 2015, was due to retire in December 2021.

Commenting political scientist says a high court order that has penalized former president Peter Mutharika and former chief secretary to government Lloyd Muhara will help to cement independence of arms of government.

His remarks come a day after High court ordered Mutharika and Muhara to pay 69 million kwacha for their role in the removal of Justices Andrew Nyirenda and Edward Twea.

Speaking to radio Islam, University of Livingstonia Political scientist George Phiri says “political leader should abide by laws that govern this country.”

Phiri has added that independence of the arms of government are paramount.