Chief Justice speaks on need for speedy trial
Chief Justice Andrew Nyirenda has said he wants a Judiciary where people are proud of the quality of work and a place that promotes the ability of individuals to access timely justice.
Nyirenda said this at Sunbird Nkopola Lodge in Mangochi on Friday when he opened a training on handling of commercial matters in magistrates’ courts organised by the High Court of Malawi Commercial Division.
The Chief Justice said people do not want to spend their time in court as they want to go on with their businesses and they come to court as a last resort; hence, it is “completely unreasonable” for cases to stall for years until parties have passed on and their heirs are left trying to claim justice for injuries caused years before.
He said: “When people come to court, they want their matters to be dealt with, finished with so that they can go back to their businesses. As such, it is important that we deal with these matters very decisively but at the same time very quickly to allow businesses go on.”
Nyirenda also expressed satisfaction that the training focus extended to judicial integrity, effective and efficient court service customer oriented service. He said he has high expectations that it will bring about professional improvement in the delivery of judicial services in the country. administration and delivering a
Judge president of the High Court of Malawi Commercial Division, John Katsala, in his presentation during the training session, said as a country, Malawi has taken a direction that it needs to boost its economy as a path to development and as such commercial courts are crucial to the development of the economy.
He echoed Nyirenda’s sentiments that speed should be part and parcel of the court’s work as everyone wants their cases completed quickly.
Katsala said it is important for magistrates to be punctual, start court business at the prescribed time, not to keep people waiting for no apparent reason and in case of inevitable delay, advise all parties involved about the delay and if possible indicate reasons.
The training, under the theme The Role of Magistrates in Promoting Commercial Justice in Malawi, was attended by magistrates from districts across the country, including chief resident magistrates from Malawi’s four regions—North, Central, Eastern and Southern.
