Don’t undermine court judgements—group
Karonga District Peace and Unity Committee has raised concern about the growing number of conflicts in the district emanating from undermining court judgements.
Speaking on Saturday during a media peace building meeting that Evangelical Association of Malawi (EAM) held with Karonga-based journalists, the committee’s secretary Aaron Mwenelupembe said since November 2022 to April 2024, the district has recorded almost 100 conflict cases.
He said: “There are individuals who are showing a culture of disrespect to the rule of law, especially after the courts pass judgements on cases of land, chieftaincy and witchcraft. They act in defiance of the judgement leading to more conflicts.
“We recorded 16 cases of conflicts due to defying court judgements in Traditional Authority [T/A] Kilipula, 14 in T/A Mwakaboko, 20 in T/A Wasambo and 16 in T/A Kyungu. Mostly, they involved property grabbing, chieftaincy and witchcraft.”
Mwenelupembe emphasised that fostering a culture of respect for the rule of law is crucial in maintaining peace and stability in the district.
Karonga Press Club chairperson Adams Wundaninge pledged to ensure that journalists encourage community members to accept court rulings as a means to resolving disputes.
“Journalists have the power to use the media as a peace building tool without sensationalising issues. We have to be impartial when reporting on conflict-related issues,” he said.
EAM advocacy officer Fumbanani Mwale said journalists have an important role to play in maintaining peace ahead of the 2025 General Elections.
“This meeting was essential for Karonga District which is volatile and journalists should play a major role in raising awareness about peace,” he said.
EAM organised the meeting under the Churches United for Peace and Justice and Electoral Governance project with funding from Bread for the World-Protestant Development Service.
