For far too long, Malawi’s judiciary has paraded itself as an untouchable oligarchy, with certain judges reveling in their self-imposed status as demigods, immune to scrutiny and accountability. But that era of unchecked judicial arrogance is crumbling before our very eyes, thanks to the fearless crusaders of justice like anti-corruption activist Alexious Kammangira, whose relentless exposés have sent shockwaves through the corridors of power.
Now, another brave warrior has emerged to strike a decisive blow against judicial impunity—Humble CS Bondo, the former President of the University of Malawi Students Council, who has chosen to take the bull by the horns. In an audacious move that is set to rattle the foundations of the judiciary, Bondo has formally notified the Blantyre District Commissioner of his plans to stage an unrelenting, indefinite vigil right at the doorstep of the Chief Justice Rezine Mzikamanda. His demand? Immediate action against the scandalous and indefensible delay of a judgment by none other than Zomba High Court Judge Zione Ntaba—the very embodiment of judicial lethargy and dereliction of duty.
In a damning letter, which the Blantyre DC officially stamped and acknowledged, Bondo meticulously laid out his grievances, exposing the staggering incompetence and disregard for justice displayed by Justice Ntaba. The letter reads in part:
“On 18th June 2024, I was subjected to an adverse disciplinary outcome at the University of Malawi. In response, I filed for Judicial Review and a Stay of the Decision on 21st June 2024 at the Zomba High Court as a matter of extreme urgency. Initially, the matter was assigned to Judge Chirwa, but he recused himself citing conflict of interest. It was then passed to Justice Zione Ntaba. On 26th June 2024, Justice Ntaba ordered an inter-partes hearing, which proceeded and concluded on 9th July 2024, awaiting the ruling. Nine months have elapsed without any ruling despite several reminders through my Lawyer, Zomba Court Registrar, and the Chief Justice.”
Nine. Months. A staggering, inexplicable, and downright outrageous delay in a case that was deemed urgent. This, by any measure, is not just laziness but a flagrant abuse of judicial office. Even more alarming is that Judge Ntaba seems to have brazenly ignored reminders from the Chief Justice himself, showcasing a level of arrogance and indifference that should send shivers down the spine of every Malawian seeking justice.
Bondo, who has grown weary of this mockery of due process, has now made his intentions crystal clear: he will not be silenced, nor will he allow this blatant miscarriage of justice to continue unchallenged. In his letter to the DC, he vowed to hold a vigil and demonstrations to, in his own words, “force the Chief Justice to address the concerns, which are already before him.”
JUDGE NTABA: A MASTERCLASS IN MEDIOCRITY?
But Bondo is not the only one disillusioned by the abysmal performance of Justice Zione Ntaba. Sources from within the legal fraternity have lifted the veil on a jaw-dropping pattern of negligence, inefficiency, and incompetence that has plagued Ntaba’s judicial career. One senior legal insider did not mince words when he described her as one of the laziest and most mediocre judges to ever grace Malawi’s judiciary.
“This is her 40th day,” remarked the insider, invoking a Malawian proverb that signals the inevitable downfall of the wicked. “One wonders whether she is actually in service of the public or merely looting taxpayers’ money while masquerading as a judge. Cases pile up before her, judgments remain undelivered for years, and even the simplest rulings take ages. She has now been unmasked as a phony judge who is deliberately sabotaging justice seekers. In any other country, such conduct would warrant immediate impeachment. Her behavior is not just disgraceful—it is an insult to the very concept of justice.”
THE JUDICIARY UNDER FIRE: KAMMANGIRA’S CRUSADE AGAINST CORRUPTION BEARS FRUIT
It was none other than Alexious Kammangira, the Dublin-based Malawian anti-corruption crusader, who first pulled back the curtain on the shocking levels of mediocrity and corruption plaguing Malawi’s judiciary. His fearless exposés sent tremors through the system, leading to an unprecedented crackdown on rogue judicial officers. The Judicial Service Commission has since acknowledged Kammangira’s findings and is now reportedly taking serious action against at least four judges, whose conduct has left behind a trail of corruption, ineptitude, and outright betrayal of public trust.
The clock is ticking, and Judge Zione Ntaba’s reign of judicial sluggishness may finally be coming to an end. With mounting public outrage and bold activists like Bondo taking the fight to the judiciary’s doorstep, one thing is clear—Malawians are fed up with judges who believe they are untouchable.
The revolution has begun. The age of judicial demigods is over.
