Malawi Government has moved the High Court to vacate an order granted to five Malawi Police Service commissioners stopping their redeployment to the mainstream civil service.
Following communication from Chief Secretary to the Government Justin Saidi on their redeployment, the five, namely Christopher Katani, Rhoda Manjolo, Emmanuel Soko, Chikondi Chingadza and Barbra Mchenga Tsiga obtained the order on November 28.
order: Mbeta. | Nation
But the government through Attorney General Frank Mbeta has asked the court to vacate the order citing the need to put in place commissioners trusted by the new administration, among other factors.
In his application dated December 5 2025, Mbeta wants Judge William Yakuwawa Msiska to hear their plea for the sake of public interest and to avert regulatory uncertainty in government.
Reads the application in part: “…on the ground that the balance of convenience lies overwhelmingly in favour of the granting of a stay in order to prevent continued prejudice and regulatory uncertainty to the defendant and to protect public interest pending a final determination of the matter.”
The application is backed by a sworn statement dated December 4 2025 by Saidi who said government has suffered prejudice at the hands of the injunction.
Saidi argued that as head of the civil service, he is restrained from executing his mandate, consequently affecting the management and administration of service delivery.
In his order granted to the commissioners, Msiska also granted the applicants permission to start judicial review proceedings on the decision to redeploy them from their offices as commissioners to the civil service.
High Court Judge Kenyatta Nyirenda in November also granted an order that stopped government from redeploying five senior Malawi Defence Force officers, namely Major Generals Chikunkha Soko, Saiford Kalisha, Swithan Mchungula, Kakhuta Banda and Brigadier General Harold Dzoole.
The five were redeployed to various parastatals as directors of security.
