MPs endorse Nyirenda as Chief Justice

Parliament yesterday unanimously confirmed Malawi Supreme Court of Appeal judge Andrew Nyirenda as the country’s eighth Chief Justice (CJ) and head of the Judiciary since independence.
Out of 146 members of Parliament (MPs) present in the House yesterday afternoon, 141 were in favour of Nyirenda’s appointment while four were against and one abstained.
President Peter Mutharika appointed Nyirenda as CJ subject to approval by Parliament to succeed Anastasia Msosa who retired in February this year.

Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs Samuel Tembenu moved a motion for the confirmation of the CJ, describing Nyirenda as a judge with the ability to listen to all parties in disputes and has courage to do justice and settle disputes according to law.
Said the minister: “I am reliably informed that Justice Nyirenda has no arrears of undelivered judgements. With his leadership, a new culture will develop in the Judiciary. As we know, justice delayed is justice denied.”
Peter Chakwantha, Malawi Congress Party (MCP) spokesperson on legal affairs and Lilongwe South West MP, lauded Nyirenda as a man with a work ethic and justice delivery without blemish.
But he warned that Nyirenda would have to grapple with uprooting the unscrupulous tendency by some lawyers to “judge-shop” which in some cases led to corrupt practices in the Judiciary.
Chakwantha further delved into the role of the CJ during election disputes saying that the new head of the Judiciary should alongside other stakeholders examine issues of vote recounts and the speed at which presidential candidates are sworn in after voting.
Zomba Central MP Patricia Kainga (People’s Party-PP) described Nyirenda as mature, qualified and a man who understands the laws of Malawi.
Nyirenda’s confirmation received support from every corner of the House.
Nyirenda graduated from the University of Malawi’s law school at Chancellor College in 1980 and immediately joined the Ministry of Justice as State advocate until 1982. Between 1992 and 1994 he served as chief public prosecutor.
He was appointed judge in 1994 and then a judge of the Supreme Court 10 years later. In his profession as a judge, Nyirenda has worked as a commissioner of law reforms and recently was chairperson of the commission of inquiry into the death of Polytechnic student Robert Chasowa in 2011.