AG gets order to seize bus depots
T
he High Court’s Civil Registry in Lilongwe on Wednesday granted Attorney General (AG) a preservation order that effectively stops National Bus Services Limited from dealing in any way with bus depots it claims to own.
This order follows another made in Blantyre on Friday discharging permission for judicial review granted to National Bus Services.
In Wednesday’s order under the civil cause 22 of 2022, the court stopped National Bus Services from dealing with Wenela Bus Depot in Blantyre, Lilongwe/Bus Depot, Mzuzu Bus Depot and workshop, Kasungu Boma and Mzimba Boma bus terminals.
“The defendant [National Bus Services] should forthwith account for all gate pass and all proceeds collected from users and/or those who accessed properties enlisted [in this order],” reads part of the order.
The court further asked the AG, representing Local Government and Rural Development Ministry, to make arrangements with relevant authorities/councils to oversee smooth operations of the enlisted properties.
Earlier on Friday, Justice Mandala Mambulasa in Blantyre discharged the permission for judicial review that National Bus Services was granted and condemned it in costs.
Chakaka-Nyirenda said in an interview then that the court’s order meant was that the Ministry of Local Government was at liberty to manage the bus depots.
But lawyer representing National Bus Services in the case, Lusungu Gondwe, said in an interview last week that the order was inconsequential as there was an injunction by the High Court’s Commercial Division that makes National Bus Services the rightful owner of the depots.
The nationwide bus depots have been under the privately-owned National Bus Services, which bought the depots from State-owned Shire Bus Lines Limited following the 2007 voluntary liquidation.
The bus company, owned by businessman Leston Mulli, has been claiming that government, also gave them the depots and some land, but the AG’s position has been that there was no transfer of land.
