APM tells Judiciary to be accountable
President Peter Mutharika yesterday asked the Judiciary to be accountable to Malawians and live up to its responsibility of providing independent and efficient judicial services and an impartial justice system to earn the people’s respect, trust and confidence.
The President said this at Sanjika Palace in Blantyre during the swearing-in ceremony of former Attorney General (AG) Anthony Kamanga as judge of the Malawi Supreme Court of Appeal.
The President’s call comes against the background of pleas from political and human rights activists for the Judiciary, as an arm of government that interprets laws, to be accountable to the citizenry.
Mutharika said it is a disturbing fact that time and again people complain about delays in the judicial process.
Said the President: “When people complain about delayed judgements, it is not an attack on judicial independence, but a clarion call to the Judiciary to be accountable to Malawians.
“An independent and impartial Judiciary will indeed earn the trust and confidence of people as justice will be done as well as seen to be done. Efficiency and effectiveness of the justice delivery system is not an option as justice delayed is justice denied.”
Despite its enormous work, the Judiciary is operating on a low budget of about K1.2 billion (US$2.7million) as opposed to the K6 billion (US$13.3 million) it proposed for the current fiscal year.
Turning to Kamanga, the President said he knew him as a legal practitioner of many accomplishments having risen through the ranks within the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs.
Kamanga, who holds a Bachelor of Laws, an LLM (Master of Laws) and a Diploma in Legal Drafting, joined the ministry in 1978 and the only time he left was when he served as law commissioner for 11 months.
Among others, Kamanga has served the public service as chief parliamentary draftsperson, Solicitor General and Secretary for Justice, Law Commissioner and Attorney General.
The President also said Kamanga’s appointment has come at a crucial time when the justice delivery system is facing daunting challenges including pressure to clear Cashgate cases and hoped his experience will contribute towards overcoming some of them.
The President also expressed regret over last year’s judicial system’s paralysis following the salary dispute which forced the courts to remain closed for two months.
He said government will strive to find a permanent solution towards resolving such disputes without resorting to strikes and shutting down the courts.
In the heat of the dispute, the Office of the President and Cabinet (OPC) threatened to seal the Judiciary if workers did not return to work by January 5, 2015. However, they only resumed work on January 12.
In his brief remarks after the ceremony, Kamanga said he was humbled to be appointed and “I hope I can make my small contribution to the country’s justice system.”
Mutharika appointed Kamanga in December 2014 following the expiry of his term of office by virtue of operating of law.
