President Lazarus Chakwera has signed into law 13 Bills, including the Sugar cane Industry Bill and the Prisons Bill which repealed the 1956 Act.
Presidential press secretary Anthony Kasunda announced the development in a statement yesterday, saying the move was in accordance with Section 89 of the Constitution.
The Sugarcane Industry Bill is expected to enhance productivity and increase investment in the sugarcane industry.
On the other hand, the new Prison Act prohibits imprisonment of children in conflict with the law and also deals with a backlog of cases of prisoners who overstay on remand or complete their sentences without being reviewed by the High Court.
It also takes into consideration prisoners’ right to health at the State’s or personal expense as well as empower inmates, with approval of the Chief Commissioner, to engage in labour within or outside the prisons at a fee and other considerations.
Speaking in an interview yesterday, Centre for Human Rights Education Advice and Assistance executive director Victor Chagunyuka Mhango hailed Chakwera on the Prison Bill, saying it marks a historic and transformative moment for Malawi’s justice system.
He said the new Act presents a modern legal framework that upholds human dignity, aligns with international standards, and promotes rehabilitation.
“This is a major milestone, but work remains. We urge all relevant authorities to move swiftly in finalizing the operational guidelines and procedures to ensure timely and effective implementation,” he said.
On his part, Nkhotakota North legislator Henry Chimunthu Banda, who is spokesperson for Sugarcane Growers, said he expected the Clerk of Parliament to publish the signed law in the Malawi Government Gazette Supplement immediately.
He said: “It will boost investor confidence since investors will be operating in a predictable environment. The same will apply to sugarcane growers who, hitherto, haven’t been comfortable in the way revenue is shared between millers and growers.”
Section 49(3) of the Act states that the commission may approve an application to export sugar if it determines that the domestic supply exceeds demand.
Besides these, two Bills allow government to get a combined K51.8 billion loan from Opec Fund and Kuwait Fund for construction of the Mangochi-Makanjira road, but also the Penal Code (Amendment) which introduces house detention as a form of punishment.
The assenting of these Bills comes as a relief to a group of concerned citizens in the district, which last week issued a 12-day ultimatum for government to respond to concerns about the delayed construction of the road.
Others are Financial Crimes, Forestry (Amendment), Mental Health which replaces the 1948 Act, Marriage, Divorce and Family Relations (Amendment) but also the Companies, Registration and Intellectual Property Centre.
The Construction Industry Bill, which introduces new legislation to tackle challenges facing Malawi’s construction sector and tourism industry which establishes a legal framework for the development of a robust and sustainable tourism sector, also form part of the list.
