The country’s courts are facing a K3.6 billion budget cut in the Mid-Year Budget Review, reducing its allocation from K9.6 billion to K6.6 billion.
This reduction, reflected in budget documents which the National Assembly is assessing during its mid-year sitting, comes at a time when most law enforcement and justice-related institutions have received increased allocations.
The Supreme Court and High Court votes were allocated a total of K11.5 billion in the budget which rolled out on April 1 2024.
But that has been trimmed to K7.8 billion.
Centre for Human Rights Education, Advice and Assistance executive director Victor Mhango said the situation will exacerbate delays in delivering justice.
Industrial Relations and magistrates’ courts some law and justice enforcement institutions have seen increases in their budgets.
The Malawi Police Service received a proposed adjustment of K19.7 billion, raising its budget from K129.3 billion to K149 billion.
It targets recurrent expenditures, which have risen from K125.3 billion to K145.1 billion.
However, concerns about fiscal discipline persist as the Malawi Police Service overspent its mid-year projection of K58.2 billion by K1.8 billion.
Mhango said the implication means police will be arresting more people than the courts will be able to try.
The Anti-Corruption Bureau has also seen a modest increase in its budget from K8.6 billion to K9.3 billion.
This adjustment aligns with its mid-year expenditure of K4.6 billion, slightly exceeding the projected K4.5 billion, signalling continued support for its mandate.
The Legal Aid Bureau’s budget has risen from K2.6 billion to K3.5 billion while the Ombudsman’s office received a boost from K1.8 billion to K3.1 billion.
Malawi Human Rights Commission was allocated K3.5 billion, up from K3 billion.
The Chief Justice’s office saw its budget increase from K26.6 billion to K34.9 billion to cater for, among others, Judiciary staff salaries.
High Court and Supreme Court of Appeal acting registrar Innocent Nebi did not respond to our questionnaire on his reaction.
Legal Aid Bureau acting director Chimwemwe Chithope Mwale.acknowledged the increase, but said the additional funds are only meant for salaries.
“Our challenges will persist with insufficient funds for fuel, stationery, furniture, printers, computers and transportation,” he said.
