Judiciary strike called off

People who have been failing to access justice in the country’s courts can now breathe a sigh of relief as courts are set to open tomorrow following a decision by the Judiciary support staff to resume work.

Initially, the staff were supposed to start work today, but insisted that police officers who have been guarding the country’s court premises must first evacuate.

In an interview last evening, spokesperson for the support staff, Andy Haliwa, said they arrived at the decision to go back to work after considering the fact that many Malawians have been failing to access justice.

He, however, maintained that the strike was legal as opposed to what the Minister of Finance, Economic Planning and Development Goodall Gondwe and Chief Secretary to government Lloyd Muhara had earlier stated.

“The resolution has been made following the legal advice we have received from our legal advisors, the appeal from the Chief Justice as well as consideration of the right of access to justice and legal remedies of the citizenry,” Haliwa said.

President of the support staff Charles Lizigeni also echoed Haliwa’s sentiments, emphasising that their strike was lawful and fully compliant with all sections of the Labour Relations Act, especially Section 44.

He said they have been advised to pursue other legal avenues for claiming their right to housing allowances which they have since decided to pursue.

Yesterday, the striking staff had been engaging with their various leaders across the country’s courts to come up with a concrete position on the matter after meeting with Chief Justice Andrew Nyirenda on Monday who appealed with them to start work immediately.

However, the decision was not made until later in the evening when the striking staff made an appeal to the court management to have armed police at the courts removed.

The staff have been engaging in the industrial action since July 31, a development that led to courts operating from police cells as one way of easing congestion in the cells.