High Court in Blantyre sitting as Constitutional Court has adjourned to 13th January 2026 hearing of a case in which persons with disabilities are challenging Section 180b of Penal Code, which criminalizes begging.
The applicants were arrested on 11th April in 2017 following a sweeping exercise by police and were charged with idle and disorderly.
They were all convicted on their own pleas of guilty and sentenced by lower court to one week’s imprisonment with hard labour.
Lawyer representing the 13 applicants, Bob Chimkango argues that begging has been a very old profession which dates back from Biblical times, and his clients, all of whom live with disabilities are keen to see that their rights are protected and upheld by the Court.
Meanwhile, Justices Chirwa, Kanthambi and Kamowa have given the state seven days to bring forth their arguments on the case.
About The Author
