Court changes magistrate over insult claims

The Mzuzu Magistrate’s Court in northern Malawi has changed the presiding magistrate in a divorce case involving Wyton Shonga after he accused the magistrate of insulting his disability.

Mzuzu chief resident magistrate Joseph Chigona said in an interview on Wednesday the change would satisfy both the magistrate and the complainant.

“All I can say is that we have changed the magistrate as investigation into the matter continues. The change of the magistrate does not mean that he is guilty, but it is only fair to both parties,” he said.

Shonga, 55, from Andreya Chunga Village in Traditional Authority Mtwalo in Mzimba and has one eye, filed for divorce after several disagreements with his wife, Lincy.

This was after attempts by parents and traditional leaders to mediate in the matter failed.

The matter first came before court on September 23 last year, but litigants were told to give themselves three months to monitor the situation.

Shonga said in an interview recently that when the case resumed on August 8 this year, his wife asked the court to conclude the case as she was spending a lot of money travelling to Mzuzu from Ekwendeni. 

Shonga claimed he agreed the case to be concluded the same day; something he alleged did not please the magistrate.

“He told me that I was the one that brought the divorce case before him. He went on to say that I am disabled and wondered why I am divorcing a ‘normal’ lady who should have been looking after me.

“He went on to say that since I am travelling from Ekwendeni, if I met an accident, I would lose the other eye, then become blind and realise how tough the world is,” claimed the 55-year-old during an  interview.

When Shonga went to the court to lodge a complaint, he was told to formally put it in writing, which he did.

Chigona, however, said investigations into the matter are underway.

“However, the case is still continuing, but it is before a different magistrate,” said Chigona.