Community demands court

People of Traditional Authority (T/A) Ndamera in Nsanje District have asked authorities to construct court structures in their area.

Speaking on Monday after attending a mobile court organised by Child Rights Advocacy and Paralegal Aid Centre, the chief said people travel about 27 kilometres to Nsanje Boma to have their cases heard.

“People from Alufandika, Marka and Mtowe need a court within reach to access justice,” he said.

T/A Ndamera commended Child Rights Advocacy and Paralegal Aid Centre for facilitating the mobile court, saying it would help to deter other would-be offenders.

A witness in a case of goat theft, John Thengeramanga, said the mobile court helped him to testify without travelling to the boma for the same.

“If I were asked to go to testify at Nsanje Boma, I would spend more time and resources. This arrangement is good for witnesses like me,” he said.

Nsanje South legislator Ramzan Juma Mahomedi of Malawi Congress Party pledged to discuss the possibility of constructing court structures in the area with Ndamera Area Development Committee.

Marka Police Unit officer-in-charge Miriam Makombe said officers face challenge to take suspects to court at Nsanje Boma.

Child Rights Advocacy and Paralegal Aid Centre with the Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace of the Archdiocese of Lilongwe is implementing a Spotlight Initiative Programme to fight GBV through mobile courts in the district with funding from the European Union.