Bande happy with Commercial Court progress

Industry and Trade Minister John Bande has expressed excitement at the progress of the Commercial Court building project in Blantyre.

In an interview after touring the K1.7 billion project last Friday, Bande said he was impressed with the progress.

He said commercial courts help to create a conducive environment for doing business.

“If we talk of a good environment for business, we talk of commercial courts where industrial disputes are dealt with.

“Malawi is reforming and access to commercial justice is one such area. Where commercial courts do not exist, commercial cases are tried in ordinary courts and this delays even simple and straightforward matters.

“But where commercial courts exist, there is speedy settlement of industrial disputes and that creates a conducive business environment,” said Bande.

Deputy registrar for High Court, Nyakwawa Usiwausiwa, said construction of the court started in August 2010 and was scheduled to be completed this September.

“But with problems of lack of fuel and forex that would not be possible. But we are happy that the Treasury has already disbursed the last part of funding for the project,” said Usiwausiwa.