President Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika appointed 11 new members to the Judicial Service Commission.
According to a press release signed by Chief Secretary Justin Adack K. Saidi the appointments are have been made under Section 117 of the Constitution of the Republic of Malawi and are with immediate effect.
The statement said the Chief Justice Rizine Mzikamanda will serve as Chairman of the Commission and Other ex-officio members include the Chairman of the Civil Service Commission and the Solicitor General.
Among the judicial officers appointed are Justice Ophrah Dorothy Kamanga, SC, of the Malawi Supreme Court of Appeal, and Justice Violet Palikena Chipao of the High Court. The Commission also includes Ellen Chapita, Senior Resident Magistrate, and Edith Chikagwa, a staff member of the Judicial Service.
Others members of the commission include; Patrice C. Nkhono, SC, Chikosa Banda, a Law Lecturer at the University of Malawi, Dr. Rabiya Hanif as well as Victor Chagunyuka Mhango.
Commenting on the development, the Malawi law society (MLS) has applauded president Arthur Peter Mutharika for the appointments, expressing hope that the newly appointed members will start executing their duties as soon as possible.
Speaking in an interview with radio Islam, president of MLS Davis Njobvu told radio Islam that the judicial commission has been appointed at a crucial time as it is a very important body that that oversees the work of the judiciary, hence MLS is hopeful that the members will go on the ground as soon as possible as its responsibilities were not being served for almost a year.
Njobvu said the newly appointed commission has a huge task a head as there might be issues that have stalled due to the absence of the commission, hence urging the members to consider all those issues to improve service delivery in the country’s judiciary.
“Looking at the calibre of the people appointed, we are quite sure that people in the country will regain their confidence in the country’s judiciary because it has been well represented and we as MLS we expect that once these people are sworn-in, they will deliver according to our expectation”, he said.
Njobvu also commended the inclusion of women in the commission as it portrays the promotion of gender equality.
Meanwhile, NGO Gender Coordination Network NGO-GCN and women manifesto movement have commended president Mutharika for the recent appointment of new members of the judicial service commission in which women account for more than 50 percent.
According to a statement signed by chairperson for NGO-GCN and women Manifesto Movement, Maggie Kathewera Banda, the appointment of women to leadership and decision-making positions is a strategic national imperative.
Kathewera Banda says women leaders in in the judiciary and public service strengthens public confidence in institutions, promotes accountability and accelerates Malawi’s progress towards inclusive and sustainable development.
She has also called upon the president to sustain and deepen his commitment and ensure that future appointments meet or exceed the gender representation threshold.
Banda has therefore reaffirmed the organisations’ commitment to working with government, the civil society and all stakeholders to build a country where women and men share in governance, leadership and the fruits of national development.
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